How do magnetic cylinders maintain the integrity of shot blasting in foundries?
In foundries, shot blasting is a key surface preparation and cleaning process. However, the presence of foundry sand can pose a significant challenge because it can contaminate the steel shot and reduce the effectiveness of the shot blasting process. In this article, we will discuss a specialized component of shot blast machines designed to solve this problem: magnetic cylinders.
Challenge: foundry sand
Foundry sand is an essential element in molding processes, but during shot blasting it becomes a contaminant. When mixed with steel shot, it may cause premature wear of the machine and reduce the effectiveness of the cleaning process. In short, foundry sand is the worst enemy of a shot blasting machine in a foundry environment.
Solution: magnetic cylinders
To counteract the harmful effects of foundry sand, some shot blast machines are equipped with magnetic cylinders. These cylinders are designed to attract and retain magnetic steel shot (shown in blue for visualization purposes) while allowing non-magnetic foundry sand (shown in red) to fall under the influence of gravity.
How do magnetic cylinders work?
Magnetic cylinders are typically placed behind a traditional air separator, another item you may learn about in another article. When the mixture of steel shot and foundry sand passes through these magnetic