Many different types of manufacturing technologies, tools, methods and services are used in the creation of precision machined parts. From the initial product conception and development on down to the manufacturing services used in Wareham at BBB & Machine, Inc., every stage of the process is an important part of the overall plan. Abrasive blasting is a service that is used to help to change the surface of the product, piece or part that is being manufactured. There are many different reasons why someone would choose to use abrasive blasting and there are also many different variants of this process that can be used, based upon the type of media that is chosen and the desired results.
What is Abrasive Blasting?
Simply put, the process known as abrasive blasting is an operation that is used in manufacturing to make a smooth surface rough or to make a rough surface smooth. It can also be used to help remove contaminants from a surface, such as rust removal, or to shape a surface in a certain way. A stream of natural, metallic, agricultural or synthetic materials are forcibly propelled against the surface under high pressure to create the desired results. Compressed air is typically used as the propellant and the material used can range from mildly abrasive to highly abrasive, depending on its use.
Many different types of materials can be used in abrasive blasting as part of the overall manufacturing services in Wareham. While not all of the types available are used to create our precision machined parts, many of our clients make special requests for this service during the initial product conception and development phase. When it comes to abrasive blasting, just about any material can be used and many methods for it can be applied. The rest of this article will focus on these different types of abrasive blasting and how they are used by various industries.
Types of Abrasive Blasting
First patented back in 1870, abrasive blasting has been around for a long time. Regardless of the media that is being used, the most common features of abrasive blasting used in manufacturing include the use of extremely fine to coarse media with a wide range of densities to create the desired effects on the product that is being manufactured. Some processes are simple, using portable units, cabinets or booths for application, while others are more complex and precise, using automated production machinery for more specific results every time.
The processing speed for abrasive blasting, whether used by manufacturing services in Wareham or for other types of product conception and development, can vary depending on the size and type of media that is used. The use of water in the process between the media and the precision machined parts that are being blasted, creates a cushion that protects the surface from excessive damage during abrasive blasting. This can help to reduce breakdown rates and prevent materials from embedding into the surface. Wet blasting surfaces are much cleaner than dry blasting surfaces, eliminating the need for secondary contamination removal or static cling of dry media or debris.
- Automated Blasting – This type of abrasive blasting is completely automated and this very controlled method can be applied to just about any of the other types of abrasive blasting described below.
- Bead Blasting – Used to remove calcium deposits, embedded fungus or to brighten grout color, this is a favorite method used by pool cleaning services. It can also be used to remove paint better than sand blasting for auto body work.
- Hydro Blasting – AKA water blasting, this method uses a high pressure stream of water to remove chemicals, build-up, paint and other issues from a surface. Great for cleaning both internal and external surfaces because the water can get to hard-to-reach places, unlike other blasting methods.
- Micro-Abrasive Blasting – Uses extremely small nozzles to deliver a fine stream of abrasive media very accurately to a very small area or to a very small part. Particle sizes used in this type of abrasive blasting range between 10 and 150 micrometers.
BBB & Machine, Inc. Manufacturing Services in Wareham
If you are in the market for precision machined parts from professional manufacturing services in Wareham, MA or the surrounding New England area, contact BBB & Machine, Inc. In addition to abrasive blasting, we provide a wide range of other services and methods used in product conception and development all the way through manufacturing, testing and inspection, to create high quality and consistent products for our clients. Give us a call at 508-273-0050 to get a FREE estimate on your project or use our convenient online form to get more information about any of our services.
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