Blast-room cuts a dash for mower maker

The durable, high-quality finish expected by customers requires effective surface preparation of the mild steel components before they are powder-coated.  The company previously used sub-contractors for this work but has now brought the process in-house in order to improve production flexibility and quality control and reduce damage to components in transit.

The new blast-room is designed for work on fabrications weighing from 2 to 50kg, using chilled iron abrasive. Located inside an existing building, the chamber is 6m long x 4.5m wide, with walls and roof made from double-skinned insulated steel panels, which reduce sound transmission.  The floor is lined with steel plate.  Air inlet ducts and exhaust points around the chamber ensure effective dust extraction and air ventilation.

The blast machine is a high-production direct-pressure unit that feeds a 10mm ID tungsten-carbide-lined nozzle that provides maximum blasting velocity, uniform abrasive distribution and a high work-rate. It also allows low-pressure blasting when required.  The machine is joined directly to a three-tonne storage hopper, forming a totally enclosed feed system.

The abrasive recovery system consists of a large floor hopper into which operators sweep used material and which is linked to a separator system that removes contaminants, fines and dust. Clean abrasive is returned automatically to the main storage hopper. Dust is collected on filter cartridges and automatically deposited in bins for disposal.