Automated Shot Blasting

Shot blasting is a surface preparation technique used to clean, strengthen, or etch the surface of a material. It involves propelling small metallic or abrasive particles at high speeds onto the surface to remove contaminants, rust, paint, or scale. The process is typically carried out using a machine called a shot blaster.

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Shot Blasting Transforms Materials for Unmatched Quality

Benefits of Shot Blasting

Reduces metal fatigue
Increases corrosion resistance
Descales surfaces (removing heat treat scale)
Deflashes die castings
Add texture for increased adhesion
Increases texture for functionality
Produces a uniform cosmetic finish

Precision – Every Day, Every Part

We use various media of different sizes for our blasting applications, including carbon steel, low alloy steel, aluminum alloy, iron, titanium alloy, and nickel alloy.

Common Shot Blasting Applications

Gears
Camshafts
Shafts
Turbine Blades
Connecting Rods
Engine Blocks
Springs
And more

Other Services

FAQs

Shot blasting is the striking of a metal surface with a material like round metallic, glass, or ceramic particle with enough force to generate a deformation on the surface that is being finished.

Shot blasting can be used to remove some of the surface material, but is not commonly used to completely remove material in a deeper manner.

Arrow Shot Blasting services are ideal for the following applications:

Lengthening the fatigue life of metal
Descaling (removing heat treat and mill scale)
Deflashing die castings
Texturing parts for adhesion
Texturing for a mechanical function
Producing a uniform cosmetic finish

Stainless steel and steel media is most commonly used in our shot blasting process with different sizes available to provide a wide range of finishes.

We provide controlled shot blasting and peening services. However, we do not shot peen to a controlled shot peen specifications.

Various methods are used for blasting, including automated through feed blasters, shot blasters, tumble blasters, and hanger blasters.

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