Shot blasting is a process by which the surface of a material is exposed to an abrasive with the goal of removing any surface contamination. This process can also be used to prepare the material for a secondary finishing process.
The process involves introducing the abrasive at a high velocity in a controlled manner to the material. There are two different types of shot blasting, namely centrifugal wheel blasting and compressed air shot blasting. Compressed air shot blasting is a good choice when more flexibility is desired in delivery compared to centrifugal shot blasting, which is more economical and cost effective. The former is more effective and achieves a more uniform finish compared to the latter.
The type of shot blasting that is used depends on a number of factors including the dimensions of the specific parts, their preliminary condition and final specifications.