Bead Blasting

Surface finishing, using a bead media without the operational controls afforded by a peening process, provides a unique ‘bright’ finish to components.  This effect can be achieved using either a suction blast cabinet or pressure blast system.  The only requirement is to reduce the pressure level on a pressure vessel system as the additional impact energy can prematurely shatter the glass beads and alter the effect on the substrate, causing a high consumption of media and increased processing costs.  The bombardment by the beads on the surface of a metal component hammers the surface and ‘smoothes’ cracks and defects to offer a lustre finish.  This same process can be achieved using glass, steel or stainless steel and ceramic beads, the effect being achieved by the bombardment of spheres on the surface.