SIPHON or DIRECT PRESSURE?
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Not all applications today require deep carving and not all applications need the direct pressure abrasive delivery system created by any pressure pot assembly. Because mask material breakdown and failure is also caused by frictional heat and compressed air velocity and mass, the siphon blast system operating with reduced frictional heat using a wider abrasive pattern might just be better for surface etching. Other benefits are the siphon ability to operate with contaminated abrasive media. Smaller direct pressure nozzles often can become plugged with removed material from the parts. Uniformity over large open surface areas is similar to spray painting and relies on a larger sized spray pattern for uniformity. The larger the nozzle pattern, the easier blast pattern overlap can be accomplished and the more uniform any textured or etched surface will become. The Media Blast CrystalEtch model includes all the same features found on the direct pressure CrystalBlast 3624 Ergo including the reverse pulse cleaning dust collector. The CrystalEtch replaces the direct pressure abrasive delivery with the wider pattern of the siphon abrasive delivery system. Siphon Blast units are normally less expensive than direct pressure units but only the CrystalEtch model by Media Blast includes the clean quiet operation of the CrystalBlast dust collector and abrasive recovery system. Surface etch occurs the second the abrasive reaches the part. The mask protects the areas that remain original finish allowing the blasted area to change its reflective surface appearance. Creating company logos and other specific line art items can be easier and faster with a siphon delivery system. Unlike the direct pressure abrasive delivery system, the siphon system never needs pressure pot refilling. This permits continuous machine operation without pressure pot reloads and normally results in higher production amounts. Carving normally requires the direct pressure method. Deeper sandcarving uses a more concentrated, smaller abrasive pattern against the part. This eliminates mask fatigue by allowing the user to direct more abrasive directly onto the open area of the mask. The direct pressure delivery system creates the same abrasive grain velocity with only ½ the blasting pressure and concentrates the abrasive into a more aggressive smaller media pattern. This is beneficial for detailed line art as well as delicate picture half tones. Being able to carve deeper with direct pressure also creates interesting light patterns in the part surface viewed from the reverse side. What delivery system is best? The best delivery system is related to the products you are making. Starting with a siphon is not normally the rule even through the siphon system is less costly and easier to operate. Most sandcarving applications today are direct pressure but often Industry is making a part and not an award or promotion. This creates the need for fast surface etch and the highest production rates. The fastest method with the highest production rates is almost always siphon but Sandcarving is also about the Art! Siphon systems are often added after the direct pressure system and used for high-production surface etch. Almost all automated systems requiring very high-production outputs are siphon! |