The Function and Application of the Shot Blasting Tank
The shot blasting tank (sand blasting tank, sand blasting machine) is the core pressure vessel of the shot blasting/sand blasting equipment. Its function is to use compressed air to accelerate the spraying of abrasive (shot) onto the surface of the workpiece, in order to achieve the purpose of cleaning or strengthening.
How the Shot Blasting Tank Works
The working principle of the shot blasting tank can be summarized as "storage, pressurization, mixing, and spraying":
Storage of abrasive: The tank itself is used to hold the shot or abrasive, and usually has a hopper with a screen on the top to prevent debris from entering and blocking the valve.
Pressurization: The tank is sealed by the feeding valve, and compressed air enters, creating pressure inside the tank.
Mixing acceleration: The abrasive, under the action of gravity and air pressure, enters the mixing chamber of the "enhanced shot blasting valve" at the bottom of the tank, and mixes with the compressed air.
High-speed spraying: The mixed chamber of the "enhanced shot blasting valve" forms shot and gas, which communicate with each other and are ejected from the nozzle at a speed of 60-70 meters per second, impacting the surface of the workpiece.
Application Scenarios of the Shot Blasting Tank
The application of the shot blasting tank mainly focuses on the field of surface treatment, including:
Castings cleaning: Removing residual sand, sand clumps, and oxide scales after casting.
Removing rust and oxide scales: Cleaning iron rust from profiles, steel pipes, and the surfaces of forgings, welded parts, and heat-treated parts.
Spot re-spraying: As a supplementary equipment for the shot blasting machine, it is specifically used to re-spray the hard-to-clean corners and complex internal cavities that the shot blasting machine cannot reach.
Surface strengthening: Under the controlled pressure of air, through the high-speed impact of shot on the surface of the part, plastic deformation and residual compressive stress are generated, and through shot blasting, the fatigue life and wear resistance of the part are improved.
Pre-treatment before coating: Removing micro-bumps from the workpiece, obtaining a rough surface, and improving the adhesion of subsequent coatings or platings.
Refurbishment of old parts: For the surface refurbishment of old components.
Features of the Shot Blasting Tank
Modern shot blasting tanks usually have automatic feeding (stop when full) and remote control of the spray gun functions. They have strong and stable spraying force, effectively reducing the labor intensity of workers and ensuring the safety of the operation.