After
shot blasting, structural steel components often require some cleaning. The
degree of cleaning depends on the work piece’s condition prior to processing as
well as machine set-up.
This installment of our Structural Steel FAQ series will answer How are residual blast media and dust removed from shot blasted steel components?
Why Remove Residue
Ancillary machine attachments and processes may be
required to remove blast media and dust resting on structural steel components
to ensure surfaces are properly prepared for painting and coating.
The need for a clean and well-prepared surface after shot blasting mirrors that of the pieces surfacing in the first place as discussed in Part 1 of this series.
Methods of
Removal
Practically all plate and profile roller conveyor
shot blast machines are equipped with a media brush-off system at the machine
exit. By adding a rotary brush at the end of the process, residue is removed as
the work piece exits the machine.
Brush off station
Many times, the brush unit is augmented by a
blow-off system with one or multiple radial fans to ensure there are no “dead
zones” where residue remains.
Monitoring the Work Piece
To
account for different work piece dimensions, a photo cell is often included in
the machine. This allows the machine to monitor the height of work pieces and
automatically move brush- and blow-off units to accommodate variations in size.
The Rosler Way
Whatever your structural steel media needs are, you can count on Rosler Metal Finishing to help you find a better way and the best machine. Contact us today to discuss your unique challenges.
The complete Structural Steel Series includes:
- Part 1 – Why Surface Preparation is Necessary.
- Part 2 – Methods of Surface Preparation.
- Part 3 – Evaluating Rust and Mill Scale Pre- and Post-Blast.
- Part 4 – Evaluating the Presence of Dust.
- Part 5 – Assessing Surface Profile.
- Part 6 – Blast Media’s Influence on Surface Profile.
- Part 7 – Comparing Commonly Used Blast Machines.
- Part 8 – Are All Turbines Created Equal?
- Part 9 – Removing Residual Blast Media and Dust.
- Part 10 – Blast Rooms for Touch-Ups.
- Part 11 – Preservation Lines.
- Part 12 – Material Handling Options.
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