Sandblasting, which is also known as abrasive blasting, is a process by which a particular piece of the finishing surface is prepared for the next painting phase, this way it remains completely clean. In this article we want to talk about the sandblasting roughness tester.
But first let’s see how the effect sandblasting creates on the surface is similar to the one created by using sandpaper, but the result is more even and it is easier to apply on areas with corners and crevices.
How is sandblasting performed?
As the name suggests, sandblasting is performed with a machine that blows sand at high pressure over the surface being treated. The machine forces the particles of sand at high speed all over the surface, usually creating a smoother and cleaner surface.
Sandblasting machines are generally connected to an air compressor which allows the high-pressure air to move the sand through a handheld nozzle that the operator controls by pointing it to the area of the surface requiring the treatment.
Of course, depending on different parameters such as the type of material being treated, the type of sand used and the pressure applied, etc. the resulting surface roughness may vary.
Sandblasting at C&L Verniciatura
C&L Verniciatura is a company which has been providing industrial painting services for more than 20 years.
During this time, they have gone through a series of improvements, evolving into a bigger and more sophisticated company, currently located in Arezzo, Italy.
At their new headquarters, they have been able to expand their systems and the number of services they provide, offering painting jobs on different surfaces, including: iron, wood, glass, plastic, aluminum and tin, for both indoor and outdoor applications.
Among the many improvements, they have added to their process, we can find sandblasting.
This preparation before the painting process provides a series of benefits, including:
- An easy way to clean the surface. It is possible to remove contaminants even from the hardest materials.
- By eliminating contaminants from the surface, paint and coating adherence greatly improves.
- It creates a protective layer that prevents rust from appearing on metal parts.
- It’s an eco-friendly process.
Despite all these benefits from sandblasting, an important aspect that C&L Verniciatura needs to follow is quality control in their process to make sure they obtain high-quality results for their customers.
How does surface roughness affect C&L Verniciatura painting results?
surface roughness refers to the irregularities called peaks and valleys that appear on the surface of a part as a result of mechanical processes, such as sandblasting.
The only way for C&L Verniciatura to provide high-quality results to their customers is by making sure that the coating of paint evenly covers all the peaks on the surface in order to avoid rust spots.
In addition, they need to make sure that the peaks are not too low, as this would result in reduced or even insufficient adhesion of the coating, leading to premature coating failure.
Delivering pieces that may develop rust spots or coating failure in a short period of time is something C&L Verniciatura will never accept, especially with the high-quality standards they have implemented along the years.
But, how can they measure and control something invisible to the eye like surface roughness? Well, using a rugosimetro superficial!
SAMA Tools® Sandblasting Roughness Tester: The Solution
As part of their expansion and improvement process, C&L Verniciatura decided to look for a solution that would help them measure and control the surface roughness from the sandblasting process.
And therefore, they came to us.
We offer a wide range of roughness measurement and control instruments for various applications, including sandblasting and Visual comparative samples of roughness for sandblasting.
After working closely with our consulting experts, the company opted to purchase our sandblasting surface profile gauge, a tool that we offer specifically for sandblasted pieces.
With this handheld digital profile tester, they are able to accurately measure the distance from the peak to the valley on the surface, thus checking the appropriate roughness to ensure correct surface preparation and guarantee their customers that the coating performance will be optimized.
With this powerful, yet simple tool to use, C&L Verniciatura has obtained amazing results, which has allowed us to develop a strong relationship which we are looking forward to continue for a long time.
Now it’s your turn
We strive to provide our customers with the best solution for their specific needs.
As with C&L Verniciatura, customer satisfaction is our goal, and we would be more than happy to welcome you aboard.
So, if you need help with roughness measuring and control, or would like advice on the best instrument for your specific case, do not hesitate to contact our technical department.
You can call us at 0584/392342 – 0584/392453 or, alternatively, fill out the form online to contact us in writing.
