More Can Be Done

Author:  Kumar Balan | Blast Cleaning and Shot Peening Specialist
Source:  The Shot Peener magazine, Vol 37, Issue 4, Fall 2023
Doc ID:  2023033
Year of Publication:  2023
Abstract:  
BACKGROUND In a past column1, I shared a wish list of items pertaining to cleaning and peening machines. One of them was the endemic issue of leakage and the resulting unintentional skating rink around your machine combined with the loss of good usable peening or cleaning media. Another undesirable feature is the inability to conduct an audible conversation around a machine due to the high decibel levels. We discussed the common issues faced by Applications Engineers regarding the afterthought that blast machines have been and the lack of space to accommodate them after every small piece of machinery has claimed its space in the layout! I expressed a desire to have “prescriptive maintenance” as part of the machine diagnostics (a feature that some new equipment designs incorporate). Another topic plaguing the end-users in our industry is the difficulty to tangibly measure part coverage. Finally, I pointed out the importance of maintaining a healthy working mix in a foundry blast machine—a concept that is not relevant to peening applications that are strictly reliant on a constant shot size for their operational efficacy. Following this publication, a few of you met me at various industry events over the past year and offered suggestions that prompted me to continue on with the list, appropriately titled—More can be done!