Wet Blasting Systems, a part of Guyson Corporation, has introduced a compact tumble-blast system for batch finishing, deburring and surface preparation of small components using liquid abrasive blasting technology.
The 36 x 42-inch blast enclosure, as well as the 15-gallon slurry hopper and drip tray of the wet tumble-blasting system, are fabricated in 12-gauge 304 stainless steel to resist corrosion and allow the use of the full spectrum of aqueous cleaning chemistries, if required. The interior of the process chamber is hung with rubber curtains for abrasion resistance.
Tight-sealing side hinged doors 25 inches in height and 27 inches wide are provided on both sides of the wet blasting system. Mounted on the left side door are the gear motor, drive rollers and guides for tumble-basket rotation. The removable octagonal basket itself is fabricated from an abrasion-resistant polymer material, with replaceable perforated panels clamped between two 24-inch diameter disks that engage in the guide rollers of the basket drive. One panel is hinged to facilitate loading and unloading of parts. The eight-sided basket design promotes turning and circulation of components in the batch load of parts.
Two 90-degree-angle wet blast guns with boron carbide nozzles are rigidly bracketed in position inside the blasting chamber, so that when the interlocked door is closed, the guns are in the mouth of the tumble-basket and directed at the center of the tumbling mass of components. During the timed blast cycle, all exposed surfaces of each component are rapidly finished to a high degree of uniformity. Wet blasting may be followed by an automated rinse cycle to remove media surface contaminants and a compressed air blow-off cycle to strip excess liquid from the parts.
The interior of the wet blasting chamber is illuminated by a sealed, high-output fluorescent light, and visibility is enhanced by an inside wiper for the tempered safety-glass window at the front of the machine. A roof mounted vapor extractor and mist filter is optionally available.
When post-blast rinsing is required, a recirculating rinse system may be supplied. It consists of a baffled settling tank placed alongside the finishing enclosure to receive overflow from the slurry hopper of the wet blasting system. A pump at the opposite end of the tank delivers rinse water to a hand held spray nozzle or an automated spray jet or both. Particulates that might be carried over to the recirculating rinse tank settle out as the liquid migrates through the tank. The rinse tank may be optionally fitted with a skimmer to remove floating oil or grease from the closed loop system.
Prospective users of automated or manual wet blasting equipment are invited to submit sample components for free laboratory testing and application engineering evaluation at the Guyson factory in northeastern New York State.
