Automated Cellular Blast System
When consistency of surface prep or increased production demands it, automated blasting is called for.
We recently solved those situations for a manufacturer of machined parts, who incorporated a clean-performing, custom automated blaster into his work cell environment.
Multiple blast guns reached every area of the piece that required surface prep, and kept the cycle well within the takt time. The customer requested that all operations be controlled with the operator's left hand, for optimal single-piece work flow. To further reduce handling, the part automatically ejects. Light curtains and a spring switch work through a simple PLC that controls all functions.
There are multiple kinds of automation for abrasive blasting, and this machine is just one example. See my article in the Metal Finishing Guidebook, Six Ways to Better Blasting, for an overview of several different automation techniques for surface prep.
The machine in the video prepares metal surfaces for optimal coating adhesion, but these techniques are used in a wide variety of applications, from shot peening for enhanced part longevity to simple deburring or final finishing. Our lab at Dawson-Macdonald can help prove the process before you invest.
Contact me to explore blasting improvements in your operations.
