What Is Abrasive Blasting?

Abrasive blasting, also known as sand blasting, uses media like grit, plastic, glass, ceramic beads or similar materials for cleaning, deburring, deflashing, descaling or improving the surface adhesion of all kinds of parts. By propelling the media at a controlled velocity, this process can efficiently prepare parts for further processing. 

In order to decide on which specific abrasive blasting process is best for your parts, Eaglemaster’s experts will guide you through a simple four-step process.

• Part assessment – we’ll account for the material, additional processing and end use for your parts to choose the best abrasive blasting process 
• Media selection – our team will decide on the ideal type of blasting media based on the desired finish and further needs
• Blasting – we complete the blasting process quickly and efficiently while ensuring the results are exactly what you require 
• Inspection – after blasting is completed, we will inspect your parts to verify that they meet our stringent quality standards, as well as your specifications. 

Our engineers will guide you through the entire process, providing expertise on everything from media choice and masking to ideal blasting method. 

Our Blasting Capabilities and Equipment

Whether you have a large volume of parts or just need a small run prepared, Eaglemaster has a wide range of machines and plenty of experience to get your job done right. For any size run of parts that can be finished simultaneously, our batch blasting services are both time- and cost-effective. For intricate parts or those that require extra precision, our fixture blasting process provides top-quality results. If you have parts with differing blasting needs, don’t worry — Eaglemaster is adept at quick changeovers for mixed batches.  

No matter what kind of abrasive blasting your parts require, our team consistently documents the process to ensure traceable and repeatable results while maintaining compliance with all necessary regulations.  

Types of Blasting Services We Offer

From precision clean to aggressive cleaning, our bead and shot blasting services can handle all kinds of parts. Explore these options to find the best fit for your needs.

Bead and Grit Blasting

Bead and grit blasting are services most often used for precision cleaning, cosmetic finishing and improving surface adhesion for future coating or painting. Aluminum oxide and glass bead are the most commonly used media and are ideal for aluminum, non-ferrous and stainless steel parts. Media size and type can be refined to produce the desired finish, whether that be a smooth satin or matte surface. 

Learn more about our bead and grit blasting services. 

Shot Blasting

Shot blasting is generally used for more rigorous, aggressive applications, such as descaling, rust removal, deburring, texturing and deflashing. It is also an ideal abrasive blasting technique for improving fatigue strength. Steel and iron parts are best suited for shot blasting, and this method is particularly common for industrial components. Shot blasting uses steel shot that produces a uniform surface and provides extremely effective deep cleaning. 

Learn more about Eaglemaster’s shot blasting services. 

Abrasive Blasting Media and Finishing Results

Eaglemaster will help you choose from a variety of blasting media types to achieve the surface finish your parts need. The main media options we offer are: 

• Aluminum oxide
• Ceramic bead
• Glass bead
• Plastic bead
• Steel shot

The media size and type play an integral role in the final surface finish. Some media, like glass plastic and ceramic bead, are best suited for gentler applications and result in a bright, soft finish that is most sought after for cosmetic blasting and light deburring. On the other end of the spectrum, steel shot is used for deep cleaning and strengthening for heavier metal parts. Between the two poles grit, like aluminum oxide, is perfect for surface cleaning and texturing for later painting or coating. 

No matter the type of media, abrasive blasting methods allow our expert technicians to maintain strict control over the outcome and the ultimate Ra value of your parts. This ensures the surface roughness and finish of each part will meet your needs.

Common Applications of Abrasive Blasting

Abrasive blasting is used for a wide range of applications, including: 

• Blending out tool marks or other surface imperfections
• Cleaning the surface of parts to remove rust, corrosion and scale
• Creating specific micro-finish ranges
• Deburring
• De-flashing die castings
• Descaling
• Preparing parts for plating, coating or anodizing
• Producing a uniform cosmetic finish
• Texturing parts for adhesion or mechanical function