In CNC machining, bead blasting is one of the most commonly used machining processes. It refers to a process in which small glass balls or other abrasive materials are sprayed onto the surface of a part under high pressure. In the CNC machining process, bead blasting is often used as a finishing step in the manufacture of metal parts, to remove rust, paint, or other debris from metal surfaces, or it is often used to texturize plastic or glass surfaces.
You should have such a doubt: How does bead blasting work? In this article, we will introduce you to the working process of bead blasting, equipment requirements, and its advantages and disadvantages, so that you can make better use of the bead blasting process and benefit from it.
How does the bead blasting work
The working process of bead blasting is a simple but professional process that requires the use of professional equipment and operations to avoid hazards during this process. Specific steps are as follows:
First, place the surface of the workpiece to be sandblasted indoors.
The chamber is then sealed and pressurized with air.
Finally, it is sent into the chamber through the nozzle, causing the abrasive particles to impact the surface of the workpiece.
The power of bead blasting can easily remove debris or contaminants from the surface of the workpiece, making the surface smooth or polished.
In fact, bead blasting can produce a variety of surface effects, from matte to highly polished surfaces. This all depends on the size and type of abrasive particles used and the pressure of the airflow.
The equipment used for a bead-blasting finish
To get the most out of bead blasting, you need some professional equipment. Here, we’ll introduce you to the most common tools for using the bead blasting process.
Bead Blaster Cabinet
A bead blaster cabinet is used for the bead blasting sealing process. There are a variety of sizes to choose from, from small desktop units to large industrial-size units.
The bead blaster cabinet has an observation window so that the operator can check the work progress at any time. Because of the need to contain high-pressure air and abrasives, the joints of the bead blaster cabinets need to be sealed in the correct way to avoid leakage. This is because the dust generated during bead blasting may endanger the health of operators.
In addition, working with a bead blaster cabinet is much quieter than using traditional bead blasting equipment.
Bead Blaster Gun
The bead blaster gun is also one of the indispensable equipment in the bead blasting process. Available in two models: handheld and desktop. The handheld model is smaller and more convenient than the desktop. The desktop model is larger and more powerful. But whether it is desktop or handheld, its working principle is to use compressed air to operate.
When working with a bead blaster cabinet, there are two ways: using a pedal or a trigger. For longer bead blasting jobs, a pedal would be a more appropriate method of operation.
Gloves
Gloves are another guarantee for safe operation. When the operator holds the bead blaster gun for bead blasting operation, high-quality gloves connected to the cabinet can help the operator hold the bead blaster gun firmly.
Abrasive Bead Blaster Media
Abrasive bead blaster media is one of the important factors to ensure that bead blasting operations can proceed normally. It refers to the general term for small glass balls or other abrasives used in bead blasting operations on surfaces under high pressure. There is a wide variety of bead blaster media to choose from when it comes to bead blasting. For example: alumina, silicon carbide, glass beads, etc.
Of course, different abrasive bead blaster media can produce different effects, and the materials they can act on are also different. For example, when you are trying to remove rust from a metal surface, you will need to use a different type of media than you would polish a plastic surface.
The Pros and cons of bead blasting
Not every CNC machining process is perfect, which is why there are many types of CNC machining processes. Fully understanding the advantages and disadvantages of each process can help you get the maximum benefit from different processes and complete your design. Here, we will introduce you to the pros and cons of the bead blasting process.
Pros of bead blasting
Safe: There is no direct contact between the operator and the workpiece during the entire operation, and the bead blaster cabinet used is completely sealed.
Delicate: Bead blasting is a finishing process, so it will not damage the surface of the part.
Precise: The bead blaster gun is fully controlled by the operator, making it easy to achieve consistent results.
Environmentally friendly: Most of the glass beads used in Bead blasting are composed of materials that will not pollute the water supply and can be reused up to 30 times.
Cons of bead blasting
Time-consuming: Bead blasting may be a time-consuming process when there is a large amount of surface coverage is required or in other special cases.
Need professional equipment: Bead blasting requires the use of professional equipment to ensure the correct performance of the work. And these specialized equipment are often expensive.
Application of bead blasting
The bead blasting process can serve many manufacturing purposes, here we have listed a few:
- Peening
- Deburring
- Cosmetic finish
- Remove paint, calcium deposits, rust, and scale
- Polished stainless steel, aluminum, cast iron, and other materials
- Preparing metal surfaces for powder coating and painting
Some of the things need to use bead blasting
- Auto parts that need to be repainted
- Aircraft parts before painting
- Medical components made of aluminum
- Machinery and other military components
Summary
Bead blasting can be used for a variety of purposes. However, the operation process usually requires professional equipment and professional operators. Therefore, if you want to get the full benefits of bead blasting, it is very important to find a reliable partner. Here, CNCMass will be your best choice. It has a professional team and advanced machines to help you realize every design.
