How exactly do you choose a shot blasting machine?

There are many articles on shot blasting machine selection and a lot of parameters. But what the workshop director and purchasing really need is a simple and crude judgment rule. In fact, the answer is basically determined by looking at the shape of the workpiece.

1. Small parts, large batches, not afraid of touching - crawler type

Typical workpieces: screws, nuts, small hardware, brake discs, small castings and forgings.

The working principle of the crawler type is that the workpiece rolls on the crawler and all sides can be covered by projectiles. The advantages are high batch efficiency, good cost performance, and small footprint. The disadvantage is that there is slight collision between workpieces, and it is not suitable for precision parts that are afraid of collision.

Reference price: 30,000-60,000 for ordinary configuration, 80,000-120,000 for one with automatic loading and unloading and wear-resistant guard plate.

2. Large pieces, special-shaped pieces, afraid of being touched, and having inner cavities - hook type

Typical workpieces: engine blocks, gearbox casings, large gears, and structural parts before welding.

The hook type allows the workpiece to be suspended and rotated in an independent space without the risk of collision. Suitable for flexible production of multiple varieties and small batches. The ability to clean inner cavities and deep holes is stronger than the crawler type. Whether single hook or double hook depends on the output - double hook can realize the synchronization of loading and unloading and shot blasting, and the production capacity is higher.

3. Plate, profile, pipe, long piece, assembly line - roller conveyor type

Typical workpieces: steel plates, H-beams, I-beams, steel pipes, and welded structural parts.

The roller conveyor type means that the workpiece passes through the shot blasting area at a constant speed on the roller conveyor and operates continuously. It has the highest efficiency in processing long parts and batch parts, and can be connected with other processes. But there are requirements for the factory building - you may need to install a pit, or confirm whether the clear height is enough.

Can the workpiece be rolled? It can roll over and is not afraid of collision → crawler type. Is the workpiece big and are you afraid of touching it? Large items are afraid of being touched → hook type. Is the workpiece long? Does it need to pass through the assembly line? Long piece continuous → roller conveyor type.