What is Bead Blast Finish? The answer to that question depends on the material being blasted. It can be glass, aluminum, or a combination of these materials. A bead blaster will use media of different sizes. Small glass beads allow for lighter operation. Average-sized glass beads are used on aluminum or stainless steel parts. They are most effective at hiding imperfections and creating a relatively rough surface. Large-sized glass beads are used on aluminum materials, such as those found in medical equipment.
While bead blasting is highly effective at removing machining marks, it also has potential drawbacks. Stainless steel is susceptible to burrs, and it requires media that won’t embed into the surface. Stainless steels should never be blasted with steel shot, as the latter is prone to containing iron. Glass beads are an ideal alternative. A bead blasting finish can provide a consistent, aesthetically pleasing finish for your parts.
How Does Bead Blast Finish Work?
Bead blast finishing is an effective way to remove tool marks and other imperfections from a variety of materials. It is a cost-effective method, with glass beads being highly-recyclable. Glass beads can be used to blast aluminum, for example, and the resulting finish will hide the roughness of the metal. In addition, glass bead blasting can improve the aesthetics of parts.
The process requires a trained operator and is manual in nature. A skilled operator is essential for the process, as the results of the bead blasting project depend on the operator’s skill and knowledge. Bead blast finish helps manufacturers achieve a consistent, accurate surface finish, without compromising the component’s dimensions. The process is also easy to use and less aggressive than other finishing methods, making it an excellent choice for multiple industrial applications.
Choose The Materials For Bead Blast Finish
Before you start looking for a processing facility for bead blast finishing, make sure that you understand the material that will be blasted. Different processing facilities have different processes for different materials, including Stainless steel, Aluminum, Copper, brass, and more. These differences are important in the quality of the stainless steel finishes you can expect. This article will discuss the advantages and disadvantages of each type of material. Having these details in hand, you can find the right facility for your project.
Stainless Steel
A bead blast finish is an ideal surface treatment for stainless steel sheet, as it produces a textured surface with a fine dimpled pattern. Because the surface of bead blasted stainless steel is textured, there are minimal traces of fingerprints when the piece is clean. However, dust particles and hand oils can adhere to the surface and become visible in service. Therefore, cleaning should be done daily to prevent fingerprints from settling on the surface. Alternatively, a fingerprint-resistant coating material, like MaCoat GC, can be used.
Aluminum
The use of glass beads in bead blast finishing is a highly effective technique for aluminum parts. The process can provide a variety of sheet metal finishes, including peened, satin, and semi-polished. Because glass beads can vary in size, the process is most suitable for aluminum parts. Coarse glass beads provide a more coarse finish and are most suitable for parts that require a rough surface to be blasted.
Copper
Bead-blasting can produce a variety of finishes, from uniform, smooth, and shiny to tensile and fatigue-resistant. While most abrasive blasting uses jagged media, glass beads have round spherical shapes that are much less aggressive and better suited for applications where a uniform, matte finish is desired. Glass beads also tend to be better suited for stainless-steel surfaces.
Brass
If you're planning to add bead blast finishing to your manufacturing process, you should look for a facility that can provide this finish for a variety of products. Different media have different effects on a surface, so some may be less desirable for some products. Others may be perfect for other uses, but they all have the same basic purpose: to enhance the appearance of metal components. For example, a bead blast finish is a satin-like finish.
Aluminum Alloys
Bead blast finishing of aluminum alloys is a critical process in the manufacturing of components and parts. Its application is primarily in the production of high-quality surfaces that are resistant to corrosion and wear. The finish can be applied to various types of aluminum, such as sheet metal and rods. The process is used in the fabrication of aircraft parts, and is particularly beneficial for those parts that require a high-strength finish.
Media For Bead Blast Finishing Process
Bead blasting is an excellent process for surface finish. In this chapter, we’ll discuss some media for this finishing process, including glass beads, Plasti-Grit(r) plastic blast media, and metal abrasive spherical abrasives, and how they work together in bead blasting. These media are typically used for the same purposes, such as cleaning, degreasing, and polishing.
Glass beads
There are many advantages to a bead blast finish for glass beads. Glass beads are lead-free and soda-lime glass, so they don't contribute to pollution or leave harmful residues in water supplies. Glass bead blasting also helps achieve uniform surface finishes and doesn't alter the part's dimensions. However, it is important to note that this method isn't a quick fix for the best finish for glass beads. Besides, it requires tight tolerances and is often inefficient for tougher surfaces.
Glass bead blasting can produce excellent finishes for a variety of applications. The process is environmentally friendly, because the glass beads don't contain free silica, which can cause health problems when abrasive particles get stuck in the surface. Additionally, glass beads can be recycled, which makes it a safer process for the environment. Glass bead blasting requires a cabinet contains the beads.
Plasti-Grit(r) plastic blast media
The use of Plastic Grit is an excellent way to remove light coatings, rust, and corrosion from metal. Unlike glass beads, Plastic Grit is safe to use on a wide variety of surfaces and will not generate excessive surface heat. This is an excellent choice for cleaning soft metals like stainless steel. In addition, this type of plastic abrasive is recyclable, which makes it an excellent choice for environmental and health reasons.
Metal abrasive spherical abrasive
Bead Blast Finishing processes produce a satin finish on metal surfaces. The process can be used to clean corroded metal, remove cosmetic flaws, and prepare a surface for coating or paint application. The type and size of abrasive used will determine the finish, as well as the speed at which the abrasives are sprayed. Bead blasting can adversely affect the shape of parts.
Glass beads are less aggressive than aluminum oxide. They are ideally suited for applications on delicate, thin-walled metals, and are 100% recyclable. Glass beads are also less aggressive than aluminum oxide and can be used to buff stainless steel parts. Silicon carbide is another type of abrasive that is suited for a variety of applications. Silicon carbide is a hard-cutting, nontoxic, and fast-cutting abrasive, and is often used on nonferrous metals.
The Benefits Of Bead Blast Finish
If you’re wondering if you should consider glass bead blasting, you’re not alone. This process can create a textured, smooth surface with a satin or semi-polished reflection. This is particularly beneficial for delicate materials, such as wood, stone, and metal. It is also non-directional, preventing damage to delicate substrates. And because it is non-directional, glass bead blasting is safe for the most delicate of materials.
Glass bead blasting produces a smooth, uniform, matte finish
Glass bead blasting is an effective process for finishing aluminum and magnesium alloys. The high air pressure required during this process forces fine glass beads onto the surface of the part. The resulting finish is a bright, smooth satin finish. This technique is especially useful for the restoration of classic cars. It is a fast, efficient, and cost-effective way to give your parts a uniform matte finish.
It produces a non-directional textured surface with a soft satin reflection
Bead Blast finish is a non-directional texture with low reflectivity and aesthetic appeal. It is suitable for many applications, including roofing and wall panels. It can also be treated with an anti-fingerprint finish for interior use. Its advantages are numerous. Read on to learn more about this finish and its advantages. Also, be sure to check out some of the examples below.
It prevents damage to delicate substrates
A bead blast finish is a versatile, multipurpose surface finishing technique that produces a uniform and non-directional surface texture by shooting high-pressure glass or steel beads. The finish produces a matte, soft finish, has low reflectivity, and can be used with other high-polish finishes. Because it creates a matte finish, this process is often used to protect delicate substrates like glass and wood.
It gives a semi-polished, peened, satin finish
One of the finishing techniques used in many industries is media blasting. This process involves blasting with a variety of media, including sand, glass, or plastic abrasive particles. The finish obtained depends on how the blasting media is sized and disposed of. In general, the smaller the media particle, the smoother the texture and impression. Blasting conditions such as speed, intensity, and distance can also affect the quality of the finished product. Some applications for this process include covering scratched surfaces, hiding imperfections, or improving slipperiness.
It is a versatile finishing technique
The versatility of this finishing method comes from the number of possible materials that can be blasted, and the wide range of media available for this purpose. The media used for bead blasting can range in size, from small glass beads that make the operation easier and quicker to medium-sized glass beads that are most effective for aluminum parts and stainless steel parts. In general, the process is best suited for parts that need a more uniform, matte finish, while the larger glass beads can conceal surface errors.
It is used for cleaning, peening, sheen surface finishing, and general cleaning of tarnished components
Bead Blast Finish is a process wherein a rounded media is utilized for the cleaning and sheening of tarnished components. The impact of these beads leaves small craters on the surface, thereby giving the component a dimpled appearance. In addition to resulting in a smooth and even finish, the process is effective at restoring corrosion-resistant components. However, it is important to note that glass beads are preferable to steel shots.
Conclusion
The conclusion of bead blast finishing is that the finish of a part depends on many factors. The process and media used can vary, which may lead to undesirable side-effects and problems with downstream processes. Fortunately, there are several ways to improve the consistency of your bead blast finish. Read on to learn about some options for automating the process. Then, make an informed decision based on the specifications you provide to the supplier.
Aluminum alloys are difficult to finish without stripping off the oxide layer. Often, this layer is too thick for burnishing or polishing, and it may still have a little shine to it. Glass bids will not cut through this layer. You can use our Instant Quoting Engine to order a bead-blasted part. In addition, you can use our Instant Quoting Engine to compare and order a quote for bead blasting services.
