Surface finishing is the final step in the CNC machining process, and it is crucial for creating a functional machined part. Roberson Machine Company provides service bead blasting, a popular type of surface finishing, in its unrivaled value added services.
Bead blasting is a flexible, multipurpose surface finish that involves shooting high-pressure glass or steel beads at a CNC machined component. Roberson Machine Company uses a bead blast finish to clean your part’s surface and improve the overall appearance, creating a uniform surface with a dull, satin, or rough texture. To learn more about our bead blasting and other surface finishing services, give us a call at 573-646-3996 or contact us online.
What is Bead Blasting?
The bead blasting process leaves your CNC machined component with a smooth, clean, and aesthetically pleasing surface. A bead blast finish can clean corroded metal, remove cosmetic defects like textures and contaminants, and prepare a part for paint and other coatings.
We use both steel and glass beads, depending on your part’s characteristics and application. Steel beads are tough and are frequently used to clean contaminants and remove unwanted textures from hard metal surfaces. Glass or quartz beads are gentler than steel and are the primary type we use for bead blasting due to their ability to leave a more smooth, uniform surface finish. Glass bead blasting is also more variable because the size of the glass bead changes the quality of the finish it will impact. Fine beads leave a dull or satin smooth finish, while coarse beads yield roughness and mask any imperfections.
What Are the Benefits of Bead Blasting
A bead blast finish can be used on many materials, including strong metals such as stainless steel and aluminum, soft metals like brass or copper, and even plastics. Some of the other advantages of bead blasting for your CNC machined parts are:
- One of the more affordable, less aggressive surface finish options available
- It can be apply to a variety of materials
- It doesn’t change the base color of a component, resulting in a brighter surface finish
- Creates a finish that is durable and long-lasting, making it suitable for high traffic areas
- Eco-friendly – glass beads can be made from a lead-free, soda-lime glass type that doesn’t leave harmful residence in water supplies
- Can be reused many times before needing replacement, and glass beads can be recycled up to 30 times
Where is Bead Blasting Used?
Roberson Machine Company uses bead blast finishes to improve part durability and achieve a uniform surface finish. Give us a call to see if bead blasting is best suited for your next CNC machining project at 573-646-3996 or connect with us online for a free quote.
Some of the functional applications of bead blasting include:
- Peening: Is used to assist metals in withstanding fatigue and fracture.
- Deburring: Is the process of smoothing the rough edges or ridges of metals.
- Preparing for powder coating and painting: Prepping metal surfaces for other finishes.
- Cosmetic finishing: Refers to adding aesthetic features to parts
- Cleaning: Removing paint, calcium, deposits, rust, and scale.
- Polishing: Can be used for materials like stainless steel and aluminum.
Bead blasting is also utilized in several industrial applications, including:
- Aircraft parts before painting
- Aluminum parts for medical applications
- Automotive parts as preparation for adding paint
The Benefits of Bead Blasting | Roberson Machine Company
Bead blasting is dependable, eco-friendly, and cost-effective, giving parts a uniform surface. We specialize in determining when and where to apply a bead blast finish and selecting the appropriate type of bead blast for your parts.
To tell us more about your project or to request a quote for bead blasting and other surface finishing services, reach out to us online or call 573-646-3996.
