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Grit & Bead Blast Finishing

We operate multiple blasting machines, including equipment dedicated to medical components. Each machine uses a singular finishing media to maintain quality by avoiding cross-contamination.

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Exacting Standards Every Day, Every Part

We use various abrading media to achieve the specified results and finish. The choice of media makes the process suitable for finishing metals and plastics. We have the capability of measuring surface finishes.

Common Blasting Applications

  • Remove glare from medical and dental instruments
  • Improve adhesion of medical and other devices
  • Increase surface area of medical or dental implants
  • Descale heat treat scale
  • Add texture for paint adhesion
  • Texturize for mechanical function
  • Produce a uniform cosmetic finish
Set of medical implantation screw tools
Tubes with different finishes

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

FAQs

  • Glass beads result in a soft, bright finish and are excellent for blasting and light deburring applications.
  • Ceramic comes in bead and grit form and creates a smooth or matte surface finish.
  • Aluminum oxide is very sharp and abrasive and is used for blasting some of the hardest metals and surfaces.
  • Other types of metallic, synthetic, and mineral blasting media are also available depending on customer needs.

Yes, the most common types of media used for finishing plastic are aluminum oxide and ceramic media blasting.

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Yes, abrasive media blasting can create finished surfaces that create less glare under surgical lighting for medical and dental instruments.

Surface Roughness Conversion Chart

Ra (micrometers) Ra (microinches) RMS CLA (N) Rt N Cut-off Length (in) Cut-off Length (mm)
0.025 1 1.1 1 .3 1 0.003 0.08
0.05 2 2.2 2 0.5 2 0.01 0.25
.1 4 4.4 4 0.8 3 0.01 0.25
.2 8 8.8 8 1.2 4 0.01 0.25
0.4 1.6 17.6 16 2.0 5 0.01 0.25
0.8 32 32.5 32 4.0 6 0.03 0.8
1.6 63 64.3 53 8.0 7 0.03 0.8
3.2 125 137.5 125 13 8 0.1 2.5
6.3 250 275 250 25 9 0.1 2.5
12.5 500 550 500 50 10 0.1 2.5
25.0 1000 1100 1000 100 11 0.3 8.0
50.0 2000 2200 2000 200 12 0.3 8.0
Ra = Roughness Average in micrometers or microinches.
RMS = Root Mean Square in microinches.
CLA = Center Line Average in microinches.
Rt = Roughness Total in microns
N = New ISO (grade) scale numbers.
Cut-off Length = Length required for sample.

Blasting Media Chart

Type of Media Materials used on Capabilities Specifications RA (Micro-finish range) Industries
Glass bead Steel, Stainless steel, Aluminum, Titanium, Nitinol, Copper, Brass, Plastics Fine shinny matte finish, Removing light heatreat scale, deburring of plastics, Removing light scratches and machining lines, Prep for plating MIL-PRF-9954D with Mil spec media 10ra-90ra depending on the size of media, dia of nozzle, pressure used and material being blasted Medical, Military/Defense, Industrial, Food Grade, Electronics, Manufacturing, Aerospace
Aluminum Oxide Steel, Stainless steel, Aluminum, Titanium, Nitinol, Copper, Brass, Plastics Dull Matte finish, Removing heavy heatreat scale, Deburring of metals and plastics, Prep for powder coating, Prep for painting, Roughen medical implants to improve friction, Improve adhesion on all materials MIL-STD-171F Finish 5.5.1 16ra-220ra depending on the size of media, dia of nozzle, pressure used and material being blasted Medical, Military/Defense, Industrial, Food Grade, Electronics, Manufacturing, Aerospace
Ceramic (Zirblast) Titanium, Stainless steel, Aluminum, Copper, Brass, Plastics Fine shinny matte finish, deburring of plastics, Removing light scratches and machining lines 10ra-90ra depending on the size of media, dia of nozzle, pressure used and material being blasted Medical, Military/Defense, Industrial, Food Grade, Electronics, Manufacturing, Aerospace
C&G SST (Fine) Steel, Stainless steel, Aluminum, Titanium, Nitinol, Copper, Brass, Plastics Fine shinny matte finish, Removing light heatreat scale, deburring of plastics, Removing light scratches and machining lines, Prep for plating, Arrow's preferred replacement for Glassbead blasting on a part to be anodized 10ra-90ra depending on the size of media, dia of nozzle, pressure used and material being blasted Medical, Military/Defense, Industrial, Food Grade, Electronics, Manufacturing, Aerospace
300 Series SST Stainless steel, Aluminum, Titanium, Nitinol, Copper, Brass, Plastics Matte finish, Prep for plating, Food Grade, Deburring, Removing machining lines 16ra-120ra depending on nozzle size, pressure used and material being blasted. Medical, Military/Defense, Industrial, Food Grade, Electronics, Manufacturing, Aerospace
400 Series SST Stainless steel, Aluminum, Titanium, Nitinol, Copper, Brass, Plastics, Die Castings Matte finish, Prep for plating, Food Grade, Deburring, Removing machining lines, Arrow's preferred media for AR gun parts that are getting anodized 32ra-200ra depending on nozzle size, pressure used and material being blasted. Medical, Military/Defense, Industrial, Food Grade, Electronics, Manufacturing, Aerospace
Steel shot Die Casting, Steel, Cast Iron Deburring, stress relieving, scale removal, plating prep 50ra-300ra depending on nozzle size, pressure used and material being blasted. Industrial, General Manufacturing, Fabrication

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We look beyond today to increase efficiency and serve your business.

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Medical

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We finish your materials within tight tolerances to meet exacting quality and regulatory demands.

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Military

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Defense contractors rely on our anodizing, laser-marking, descaling, and other services to meet military specifications.

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Aerospace

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We offer a range of finishing services for aerospace components and maintain NADCAP certification

Manufacturing

Precision Manufacturing

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CNC manufacturers rely on our services to complete final finishing.

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Pharmaceutical

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We innovate processes in the science and art of finishing precision-engineered pharmaceutical components.

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Water Purification

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Our services for finishing water-system components include cryogenic deflashing, passivation, and laser marking.

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Automotive

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Our precision capabilities handle high-volume jobs for automotive OEMs.

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Computing

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We offer anodizing and laser marking of components and enclosures for computers and audio equipment.

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Electronics

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Our finishing services meet critical tolerances for metal and plastic parts made for consumer electronics.

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Food Service

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Our cleaning and finishing services meet strict regulatory requirements while enhancing performance and longevity.

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Hydraulics

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Our deburring, deflashing, and other services optimize the operating life of hydraulic equipment.

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Firearms

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Our suite of capabilities delivers precise results producing the highest quality finishes.

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Finished Means Finished. Done

We eliminate the need for your parts to go elsewhere.

A conveyor belt carrying unfinished parts through a box with the Arrow Cryogenics logo, and when after the parts pass through, they are deburred and clean.