Automated wet blasting with the Vapormatt Cougar Radial

Vapormatt wet blasting (often referred to as 'Vapormatting') is a solvent- and dust-free simultaneous cleaning and degreasing process that employs an operator-safe cleaning solution or slurry comprising a special mix of water, detergent and abrasive media - normally an aluminium oxide or glass bead mixture. The machine incorporates a four-gun blast array with a powered turntable. The blast guns traverse radially across the table at a closely governed speed as the turntable rotates the parts. This combination of movement, coupled with the inclined angles of the four separate wet blast streams, provides a high degree of surface penetration and coverage, and ensures the consistent processing of difficult surface areas, such as bores and recesses. The machine is programmed with a pre-defined sequence of gun array movements linked to turntable rotation speed. Different programs are employed, depending on the contours of the part being processed. Adjustment of the turntable speed governs process duration. Following blasting the guns are turned off and the automated sequence is repeated at high speed using dedicated rinse nozzles to provide initial component rinsing and remove residual traces of the blast media. Final rinsing is then carried out by hand with a rinse gun at the machine's manual process station.