Unlike other abrasives, Glass Beads remove no base metal, leave no embedment, will produce better finishes and seldom require masking even precision parts. Any wet-blast or dry-blast equipment may be used. Glass Beads are impinged upon the surface being treated by a fluid stream, through a nozzle, to mechanically treat that surface. The nature and degree of treatment are controlled by the size of Glass Beads used, fluid operation pressures, and exposure time. Special chemical treatment of the glass provides constant disperson of the spheres. The glass beads are lead-free and possess qualities enabling them to withstand the rigors of blasting and resist shattering. They function without imbedment, pick-up, contamination or other damage to the surface under treatment.
The effects of Glass Beads can be classed as mechanical surface reformations. Three major categories are involved...cleaning, peening and finishing. Glass Beads' effective range in each of these areas is all inclusive. Tough mill scale can be removed from raw titanium...yet the finest finish may be applied to precision gear teeth. The capabilities of Glass Beads are almost inexhaustible. Their use will add life to dies, bearings and shafts...will blend tool marks from machined parts...perform light deburring...finish magnesium. Base metals treated with Glass Beads offer chemically pure surfaces.
Typical Glass Bead Applications
Finish
Provides uniform, controllable surface character. Blends high spots...improves any metal finish.
Close Fits
Wear, binding and high spots can be greatly reduced with Glass Beads treatment.
Anodized Aluminum
Improves adhesion, provides decorative finish. Will remove anodize.
Machining
Blends machining marks; reduces stress risers
Dies
Production life is increased.
Brass
Increases wear and lubricating qualities; smooths and levels. Improves adhesion of plating solution.
Non-Metallics
Matte-satin finishes on plastics, ceramics, woods; stone and other non-metallic materials may be achieved with Glass Beads. It is particularly effective in producing special decorative effects.
Plating
Leaves no foreign matter or contaminants. Produces a fair bonding surface.
Rollers
Increases service life and imporves performance of all types of rollers.
Shafts and Rotating Parts
Reduced friction and binding, increases RPM. Lubrication and wear qualities improved.
Surfaces
Does not alter dimensions. Smooths and levels the surface leaving it chemically pure, free of imbedment or contamination.
Missles and Aircraft (Airframe)
Corrosion removed without distrubing dimensions. Stress relieves, reduces air friction, increases fatigue strength.
Cold Working
Produces fine finish; stress relieves, work-hardens, levels and finishes
Heat Treatment
Surface character of heat treated components can be imporoved without affecting heat treatment.
Fatigue Life
Glass Beads level surface irregularities, cause of many fatigue failures.
Heat Treat Scale and Discoloration
Will remove scale and discoloration. Will straighten tempered parts and imporve surface. Will not alter heat treat qualities.
Cleaning
All dead metal...all foreign matter is removed without dimensional change. Chemically pure, smooth surface remains; ideal for welding, plating, painting, etc.
Molds
Will not damage or change dimensions of molds. Offers quick, safe removal of residual deposits from rubber, plastic and glass molds. No contamination...no imbedment...increased production life.
Rejected Parts
Parts rejected because of tool marks, improper finish or minor surface imperfections can possibly be economically salvaged with Glass Beads treatment.
Welding
Prepares surface for fusion, bonding. Completely removes flux, welding residue...stress relieves and smooths weld.
Aircraft Parts
Ideal for precision controlled cleaning. Increases fatigue strength, reduces wear and friction, stress relieves.
Burned Areas
Removes all scale and residue caused by fire; smooths surface.
Tool Marks
Easily removes thread hairs and blends tool marks into smooth level surface. Up to 50% improvement in surface rms.
Deburring
Removes feather burrs, thread hairs...levels subsequent surface.
Inspection
Glass Beads treatment exposes otherwise undetected cracks and flaws to visual inspection. Can eliminate machined parts that would be rejected by final inspection.
Sizes: Sieve/Microns
A(20-30)/(841-595)
B(30-40)/(595-420)
C(40-60)(420-250)
D(50-70)/(297-210)
AA(40-70)/(420-210)
AAA(25-45)
AB(50-80)/297-177)
AC(60-100)/(250-149)
AD(70-140)(210-105)
AE(100-170)/(149-88)
AF(100-200)/(149-74)
AG(140-270)/(105-53)
AH(170-325)/(88-44)
AI(170-DWN)/(88-Finer)
AL(270-DWN)/(53-Finer)
AQ(325-DWN)
Mil Spec Sizes:
#3(20-30)
#4(30-40)
#5(40-50)
#6(50-70)
#7(60-80)
#8(70-100)
#9(80-120)
#10(100-170)
#11(120-200)
#12(140-230)
#13(170-325)