Abrasive grit blasting is used quite extensively both in metal finishing industries as

well as in the general fabricating and outdoor fields. Limiting ourselves to the
abrasive grit blasting used in metal finishing industries, one would be interested in
the controlling parameters of the process. Only when the necessary parameters for
abrasive grit blasting are first of all identified, can they then be controlled. And only
when you have a controlled set of parameters, can you ensure a consistent surface
morphology that can be repeated over and over again in order to ensure quality from
batch to batch and from part to part.

So what are the abrasive grit blasting parameters that can be identified for control?
The correct answer is that there are too many of them to go into very great detail in
one post. However, limiting ourselves only to pneumatic abrasive grit blasting and
limiting ourselves only to operations performed in a controlled grit blast cabinet, we
can identify a few key items here. Of course, more discussions on this topic will
always be the subject of future posts.

The first and foremost parameter is the air pressure. This pressure usually given in
pounds per square inch is the controlling force parameter. Excessive pressure or
very low pressure are both to be avoided and a reasonable upper and lower limit
needs to be established. The second parameter is the stand-off distance. This is the
distance, usually given in inches, between the nozzle and the work surface. Too high
or too low stand-off distances are both to be avoided. The next parameter is the blast
gun movement speed. If the grit blasting gun is moved too rapidly, then the
necessary profile will not be achieved; conversely, if the grit blasting gun dwells on
any one place too long or moves too slowly, then the metal peaks will get folded on
to themselves resulting in a poor surface roughness again. Hence there is an
optimum speed that has to be maintained and controlled.

The grit blast gun angle is another important parameter to be considered. Not all grit
blasting is done at ninety degrees to the surface and so when an angle other than
ninety degrees is being employed, the angle of attack of the impinging particles
results in a lower force than otherwise and the surface profile will be altered. This
angle that really depends upon each individual application needs to be controlled
and monitored.

If the part that is being abrasive grit blasted is on a turn-table that is rotating, then the
rotating speed that is usually prescribed in surface feet per minute is another
important parameter that has to be controlled and monitored. An important
parameter that is often overlooked is the nozzle geometry of the grit blasting nozzle
itself. Many times, the nozzle diameter may have gotten eroded and therefore
become larger and needs replacement, failing which the force component will
change and next thing you know the quality control between batch to batch will start
suffering.

Hence there are several key parameters that need to be identified and controlled in
order to ensure repeatable performance in abrasive grit blast operations.