Features of sandblasting chambers and their manufacture

Sandblasting chamber - a popular unit used for cleaning various products before painting or other processing. Devices differ in size, purpose and shape. It is worth considering in more detail what sandblasting chambers are and whether it is possible to make a similar unit on your own.

Sandblasting chamber - a special device, the purpose of which is to effectively clean the surfaces of various materials from contamination. Also, using such equipment, it is possible to remove traces of corrosion from the surface, remove old coatings before renewing the surface of the material.

Quartz sand is often used as an abrasive powder, but this is not the only material that can be sprayed under high pressure. Also, for surface treatment, they use:

• glass granules;
• slag remaining after copper and nickel;
• shot made of steel or cast iron.

The principle of operation of units for cleaning surfaces of various materials - including metal - is quite simple. The work of the machine is organized by a specialist who is outside the equipment. At the same time, the unit is aimed at performing several tasks at once:

• cleaning the surface from dirt;
• extending the service life of the surface of the processed material;
• decorating the material.

The design of any machine includes a metal cabinet equipped with a beveled lid and viewing window, as well as filters and other spare parts. On the front wall of the cabinet there are 2 small holes with sealed cuffs, where the operator inserts his hands before starting treatment.

There is a grate under the machine where used abrasive and dirt are poured from the treated surface. Dust, in turn, during the operation of the equipment enters the dust collector, and the products themselves are loaded inside through the door provided on the side.

So, the principle of operation of the device is as follows:

• first, the operator turns on the compressor to pump air into the chamber, pre-determining the air exchange rate;
• then the air flows are connected with the abrasive material, and the pressure rises inside;
• a cyclone of abrasive material literally shoots onto the surface of the pre-loaded product;
• the base of the product is cleaned of dirt, coatings and various plaque.

Today manufacturers produce two types of sandblasting chambers - inhabited and uninhabited. The most popular are the first machines, which are characterized by the following operating features.

1. The habitable sandblasting chamber is a separate room with a high degree of sealing. Inside the premises there is an operator who handles the incoming products. This is mainly industrial equipment.
2. Inside the sandblasting chamber, the walls are covered with shock absorbers capable of withstanding and damping the ricochet of the abrasive.
3. After the impact of the abrasive material on the treated surface occurs, the destroyed particles of dirt and abrasive fall on the floor grating, from where they subsequently enter the collection and return chamber.
4. The accumulated mass is sent to a cyclone separator. It separates waste and abrasive, which can be reused.

As a result, at the end of the work, dust and waste enters the drive, which is located outside the chamber, and a high-quality abrasive goes to the hopper, where it will wait for subsequent procedures.

The difference between uninhabited automatic chambers for material handling is the small area. Externally, such machines are not a room, but a tabletop rectangular box with holes provided for the operator's hands.

When choosing and buying a sandblasting chamber, you need to pay attention to several important characteristics and nuances of equipment. First, you need to make sure that the diameters and lengths of the sandblasting hoses are correct. It is also worth considering the performance of the compressor, which will pump air into the required chamber. Additionally, experts recommend paying attention to the following details.

1. Air Dryer. The presence of moisture inside the chamber makes the flow of the abrasive uneven, which causes the particles to stick together into coarse fractions. As a result, the surface finish becomes poor quality, so it is important that a dehumidifier is built into the structure.
2. Powder reservoir capacity. On average, a box should be enough for 30-40 minutes of work. It is also important that the slope of the tank does not exceed 40 degrees. Otherwise, the powder will not flow easily into the dispenser.
3. Calibration sieve. With its help, it will be possible to clean the spent abrasive material from large particles and dirt inclusions. The work of the sieve is especially useful in case of repeated loading of the abrasive.
4. Protective mesh. The presence of this structural element will help prevent damage to the glass.
5. Convenience of loading. The design of the sandblasting chamber provides for a special door, which should provide unhindered access to the entire volume of the cabinet.

To begin with, it should be noted that it will not be possible to make an inhabited type of sandblast on your own. This is possible only in the factory, and it is necessary to carefully approach the development of a project for such a room. In addition, the cost of such installations reaches 1.5 million rubles, which is unprofitable for those who want to use a sandblasting chamber on the farm.

You will be able to make an uninhabited camera with your own hands. It is noteworthy that with a competent approach, the equipment will work no worse than the purchased version. You can achieve the desired result by preparing the necessary tools and quality materials.

Advantage fixed camera - small size. It does not take up much space, and if necessary, it can be transported. In simple terms, a homemade sandblasting chamber is a metal box, which can be assembled according to drawings and drawings from the Internet.

Before proceeding with the assembly of the sandblasting barrel, you need to take care of safety precautions. Work should be carried out in overalls and gloves to prevent damage to the delicate areas of the skin from damage.

It is customary to understand it as the space inside the chamber, which is tightly closed during the cleaning of the surface. It is important to provide a special mesh or grate on the floor of the working area so that sand or other abrasive does not linger in the chamber in the process, but falls inside.

Also, the device should be equipped with a viewing window so that the operator can monitor the process and evaluate the result of the work done. Lighting is installed in the upper part of the working chamber to prevent the occurrence of darkened areas. This is necessary so that the cleaning of the material is carried out at a high level. In this case, the lamps must be made closed so that the abrasive does not damage their surface.

Most often they are performed conical. Wherein it is important that the bottom has large dimensions, otherwise it will not be possible to organize the free placement of the spent abrasive and waste from the processed material... In addition, when arranging the bottom, it is worthwhile to provide for unhindered access to it, so that it is convenient to subsequently pour the abrasive and dust into a bucket or other container.

Designed to provide air discharge and dust removal from the camera. It is an important structural element, so this point must be taken into account when assembling the camera. It is recommended to use an electric motor as an exhaust hood, the power of which does not exceed 0.75 kW. It'll be enough. When choosing an engine, it is worth giving preference to models with a blade propeller.

It is the basis of the system and is a special installation, through which it is possible to organize the surface treatment of various materials. The most popular are injection pistols. They first inject air into the chamber, and then let sand in, which moves by gravity along a hose from a separate container.

Using the injection gun, it will be possible to remove:

• slight pollution;
• matte layer;
• a thick layer of paint;
• rust layer.

The second most popular are pressure-type sandblasting machines. In them, the air line is divided into two parts. The first leads to the container with the abrasive, the second to the exit from this container. Such models will speed up the processing process.

With its help, it is possible to connect attachments and ensure effective control of the device by connecting the electrics. The housing must be provided with openings for the arms, which must be located at a convenient height for the operator. The optimum hole diameter is 12 cm. When choosing gloves, this point should be taken into account.

The camera of the device must be equipped with good quality lighting. It is important that the work area is fully visible and there is no dark area inside. To protect the lamps from being damaged by abrasive material, it is recommended to cover them with a plastic cover. On average, two lamps are sufficient to illuminate a small camera.

For the features of sandblasting chambers and their manufacture, see the video below.