Blasting Wheel Cabinets

One of the more important components of blast cleaning equipment is the blasting wheel, an integral part of the blasting process that determines part quality. The number of wheels used, their size and horsepower, and how they are positioned on the blast cabinet directly affect fabrication cost.

Blasting wheel cabinets propel the shot or grit onto the workpiece in specific patterns. The size and RPM of the blast wheel determine the amount of blast media that can be thrown at the workpiece within a given time frame. The type of wheel used and wheel design can greatly affect the efficiency of the process. Blast patterns and impact angles affect productivity and quality.

Wheels should incorporate wear-resistant materials. The abrasive nature of the shot media can cause extreme wear on wheel blades unless they are made of hard, durable metal. The wheels direct the abrasive media against the workpiece in a steady, high-velocity stream. Blast patterns should be adjustable for optimizing blast cleaning effectiveness.

The majority of centrifugal blasting wheels used throughout the industry are standard impeller, control cage wheels. The blast media is held in a storage hopper and gravity-fed to the impeller control cage at the center of the wheel. As the media feeds into the wheel, it is centrifugally thrown onto the workpiece.