Bead blasting is a surface treatment process that uses high-speed spherical media to clean, strengthen and beautify the surface of materials. Compared with traditional sandblasting, it is gentler and does not damage the material itself. It is a commonly used surface treatment method in CNC processing, 3D printing, metal manufacturing and other fields. I will comprehensively analyze the principles, process flow, applicable materials, common media, advantages and disadvantages of bead blasting, and its practical applications in various industries to help you determine whether this method is suitable for your project.

Was Is Bead Bdauerhaft

Bead blasting is an efficient, non-destructive surface treatment technology and belongs to the fine-grade media jet processing . It uses compressed air to strike the workpiece surface with a spherical medium (such as glass beads, ceramic beads, etc.) with a diameter of usually 40 to 200 microns at a high speed and a jet pressure of 50 to 80 PSI , forming tiny indentations, thereby achieving the effect of removing surface defects and improving texture.

Bead blasting has several significant advantages over traditional grit blasting:

Nein CHängen In WOrkstück Size : I often use bead blasting on parts with a tolerance requirement of ±0.01 mm, because it does not remove material significantly like sharp media such as aluminum oxide, and it causes almost no dimensional change, making it particularly suitable for secondary processing of CNC precision machined parts .

Uniform MAtte SDein Gesicht : Thousands of circular micro-pits formed by bead blasting scatter light, giving the surface a uniform matte or silky texture . We once processed a stainless steel housing for a medical device customer. After bead blasting, the Ra value increased from 0.8 µm to 1.5 µm, making the surface softer and easier to disinfect.

Verbessern ADhäsion And FMüdigkeit SStärke : Bead blasting can also improve the adhesion of coating, painting and anodizing by inducing surface stress. I have bead blasted aluminum robot arm components and then powder sprayed them. The bonding strength increased by more than 20%, and the peel test showed that the adhesion strength reached 6.8 MPa .

A Gentler Tehandlung Method : Unlike the sharp impact of sand particles (such as brown corundum), bead blasting is gentler and will not scratch the surface. It is suitable for precious materials such as aviation-grade aluminum alloys and titanium alloys .

Bead blasting is not limited to decorative purposes, but also plays an irreplaceable role in functional surface engineering. I often use it on medical devices, precision optical components, aviation connectors, electronic housings and other products to remove micro burrs, even surface reflections, and prepare for coating pretreatment. It has become an indispensable part of our process.

Bead Bdauerhaft PProzess

The bead blasting process includes six steps: pretreatment, material selection, parameter setting, blasting, inspection and repeated treatment. Each link will affect the consistency, roughness and adhesion of the final surface. In actual operation, I found that the standardized process can improve the consistency by about 20% and reduce the defective rate by 15% .

Übersicht Of The SSchritte

WOrkstück
enters the bead blasting process, it must be thoroughly cleaned of oil and dust by ultrasonic or alcohol wiping. This step is crucial, as any residue will affect the bead landing angle and uniformity.

Die Wahl The Typ And Size Of Beads
Depending on the material and the target surface effect, I will choose glass beads, ceramic beads or steel shots between 40-100 mesh . For example, 60-80 mesh glass beads can be used for aluminum alloy to obtain a better matte effect; while carbon steel uses ceramic beads to increase the hardness of the stress layer.

Rahmen The Bdauerhaft Parameter
I usually keep the pressure between 50–70 PSI , the blasting angle between 45°–75° to ensure the beads do not locally erode the material, and the treatment time between 30–120 seconds depending on the surface area and the target roughness .

Das Bead Bdauerhaft PProzess Is Pdurchgeführt
by placing the workpiece in the bead blasting cabinet, and the rotating tray drives the part to rotate slowly to ensure uniform coverage without dead corners. For some special parts, I will use manual adjustment of the angle to optimize the surface condition.

Oberfläche Inspektion And Nnotwendig Rarbeiten
Use a gloss meter or surface roughness meter (such as Mitutoyo SJ-210) to inspect the treatment results. If there are residual particles or uneven matte, we will readjust the spraying time and angle for secondary processing.

Häufig UDurst Equipment

Bead Bdauerhaft CAbinet

The bead blasting cabinet is the core structure of the entire process. It prevents dust from escaping through a closed structure and is equipped with LED lighting, observation windows and a high-intensity filtration system . The double-station rotary bead blasting machine used in my workshop has a daily production capacity of 500-700 medium-sized parts.

Sbeten Gun

Spray guns are usually equipped with adjustable nozzles, which can be adjusted for angle, distance and outlet gas flow rate. I usually recommend using tungsten carbide nozzles , which are wear-resistant and have a long life. One spray gun can be used for about 10,000 spray cycles.

Schutz- Gliebt And Vansehen Wunten

Gloves generally adopt a three-layer structure with high wear resistance and static isolation performance. The observation window is equipped with a replaceable liner to effectively extend the service life. During high-speed spraying, maintaining clear visibility is essential for fine surface control.

Was MAterials Can Be Bead Bdauerte For

Bead blasting is widely used for surface modification of various metals and engineering plastics due to its good material compatibility. Selecting the appropriate bead blasting media, particle size and pressure parameters is the key to ensuring surface quality and dimensional stability. I usually make different adjustments based on the hardness, heat sensitivity and surface requirements of the material.

The following are the main types of materials I often handle and my corresponding application experience :

Metall

In terms of metalworking, the materials I most commonly bead blast include:

Aluminium Alloys (Such As 6061, 7075) : I usually use 60-80 mesh glass beads for blasting, controlling the pressure at 50-60 PSI , which can obtain a fine matte texture with an Ra value between 1.2-1.6 µm , which is especially suitable for surface finishing of consumer electronic product housings or aviation-grade parts .

Edelstahl SStahl (Such As 304, 316L) : By using ceramic beads , I can achieve a non-directional glossy appearance while maintaining corrosion resistance. If used with a 0.8mm nozzle and appropriately extended treatment time, micron-level residual stress strengthening can be achieved .

Titan AIloy : Bead blasting is mainly used for pre-treatment of medical device components to improve surface cleanliness and passivation. Titanium surfaces are very sensitive, so I would reduce the pressure to 40–45 PSI and use fine-grained glass beads to prevent scratches.

Kohlenstoff Steel And TOll SStahl (Such As AISI 1045, D2) : Steel shot or ceramic beads are usually used , the goal is to remove the oxide layer and surface hardening. Steel shot blasting can also achieve stress relief in some occasions, which is common in molds or machine blades.

Kupfer : Due to its softness and easy oxidation, I only use bead blasting when a matte appearance is required and no Glasur is required, using low-pressure fine glass beads to control Ra to 1.5–2.0 µm .

Process Engineering Plastics (PKunst)

For high-performance engineering plastics, I pay more attention to the consistency of surface details and the safety of not damaging the material itself during bead blasting :

POM (Polyoxymethylene) : I will use 60 mesh glass beads to spray at a low pressure of 35 PSI to eliminate injection flow marks on the surface of black POM parts and improve visual consistency. It is often used for the appearance of gears or transmission components.

PEEK : Widely used in aviation and medical fields. I often use ultra-fine ceramic beads in bead blasting to avoid particle residue. Its surface cleanliness can be improved to ISO class 7 level and is widely used in clean room environments.

Nylon, PEEK

The purpose of bead blasting of nylon (such as PA66, PA12) is usually to improve the surface uniformity of injection molded products, especially on lighter-colored nylon parts. Bead blasting can significantly eliminate weld lines and light differences, making it suitable for tool handles, housing parts, etc.

I am particularly cautious with PEEK when working with medical device parts such as implant housings. Typically, **<100 µm glass beads** are used and the pressure is controlled between 30–40 PSI . This can create an extremely fine matte effect without causing surface roughening, meeting the dual requirements of biocompatibility and precision assembly.

Was Media Are UDurst For Bead Bdauerhaft

Common media used for bead blasting include : glass beads, ceramic beads, steel shots, plastic media and alumina . Different media have different hardness, particle size and effects, and can be selected according to the material, target surface roughness and functional requirements.

The following are some common media that I use most frequently and have the most significant performance differences in actual processing, and their comparison :

gemeinsam Types

The most commonly used one is glass beads, which are round beads made of lead-free soda-lime glass with a hardness of about 5.5. They can create a uniform matte texture on the surface of aluminum parts and are suitable for visual optimization of CNC precision parts. Especially when spraying at 50 PSI, it does not affect the tolerance and can improve the appearance.

Ceramic beads have obvious advantages in the treatment of hard materials (such as titanium and heat-treated mold steel). The hardness is about 7, which can increase the wear resistance without damaging the part structure. I have used it in aviation parts to achieve high uniformity of Ra 1.2–1.8 µm.

Steel shot is mainly used for shot peening. I have used S230 steel shot on a batch of H13 tool steel die-casting molds. The spraying at 90 PSI improved the surface crack resistance by 18%, greatly extending the mold life.

Plastic media (such as Urea-based) are commonly used for plastic parts such as ABS and POM. I processed automotive interior parts at 35 PSI, which effectively removed the injection flash without leaving scratches. It is especially suitable for parts with low hardness and high appearance requirements.

Aluminum oxide, with its hardness of 8–9, is used by me for roughening, especially when treating aluminum parts before painting or anodizing. I typically use #80 grit at 70–80 PSI to quickly remove surface oxide films and improve coating adhesion.

Wie To CHoose The MEdium

When I actually choose bead blasting media, I usually give priority to the following four core factors:

Härte MAtchen : glass beads are selected for soft materials such as aluminum, ceramic beads are selected for hard materials such as steel molds, and plastic media is preferred for plastics.

Jet PDruck And Sgepinkelt : Jet energy directly affects surface roughness and micro-stress distribution. For steel shot, I control it at 90-100 PSI, which has a more stable effect when used for peening.

Hervorragendes Kostennutzenverhältnis : Although the unit price of glass beads is slightly higher, I have used them for recycling up to 25 times when processing large quantities of aluminum parts. The unit cost is much lower than alumina.

Target SDein Gesicht Textur : Glass beads for matte, aluminum oxide for roughening, and steel shot for enhanced functionality. Priority must be weighed based on product usage.

Vorteile And DVorteile Of Bead Bdauerhaft

In my experience, bead blasting is a very suitable surface treatment method for precision parts and decorative products, especially for projects that require appearance, adhesion or slight surface enhancement. But it is not a panacea, and the processing cost, applicable materials, and the impact on dimensional control all need to be evaluated in advance.

Below I will analyze its advantages and limitations in detail based on practical data :

AVorteil

1. Verbesserte SDein Gesicht Textur And GOod APpearance CKonsistenz
   When I process aluminum parts in the 3C industry, I use glass bead blasting (#100, pressure 50 PSI), which achieves a uniform matte surface of Ra 1.6 µm. It has no obvious directionality visually and feels delicate, which is very suitable for mid-to-high-end consumer electronic products.
2. Verbesserte ADhäsion And Iverbessert Subsequent PVerarbeitung Performance
   Bead blasting can form tiny depressions and improve the mechanical locking ability of the coating. I tested a batch of anodized aluminum shells and found that bead blasting first and then anodizing increased the adhesion strength by about 20% and extended the coating life by more than 15%.
3. Sanft, No Deformation, No DLiebe To Size
   Compared with sandblasting, glass beads or ceramic beads are small and round in shape, and are not easy to cause tolerance deviation. I tested the dimensional difference before and after on precision medical parts and controlled it within ±0.005 mm, which fully meets the ISO 2768-m standard.
4. Umwelt Protection, Sschicke And Low PVerschmutzung.
   Take glass beads as an example. They are lead-free, silicon-free and can be recycled 25-30 times, reducing waste emissions. I use a bead blasting cabinet with a recycling system. The monthly glass bead loss is only 3%, and the waste powder collection is less than 0.5 kg, which greatly reduces the operating risk.

Skurz bevorstehend

1. Sie hilft nicht nur Sgeeignet For PArzt With HIgh TOlerance And HIgh Finish Requirements. Bead
   Blasting will form micron-level indentations on the surface. Even if it is controlled within Ra 0.8–1.6 µm, it may not meet the requirements of mold mirrors or sliding parts. I have encountered a medical piston rod whose surface had an increased friction coefficient after bead blasting and needed to be re-polished.
2. Sie hilft nicht nur Sgeeignet For Soft Or Hhoch Elastic Materials.
   I tried to use plastic medium to spray TPU material, and found that the edge was slightly warped and partially deformed. Even if the pressure was adjusted to 30 PSI, it was difficult to avoid surface damage. Therefore, soft elastomers should avoid this process.
3. Prozess CKontrolle REquires RIch EErfahrung.
   Spray angle, time, distance, and medium state all affect the effect. I once had a batch of batches processed, and because a novice put the nozzle too close, some stainless steel parts had rough and uneven surfaces, and the rework cost increased by 12%.
4. Kann nicht Be UDurst To Form Mechanisch Bonding.
   Compared with alumina sandblasting, glass bead blasting does not produce enough roughness to form a strong bite force, which limits its use in certain situations where high coating bonding strength is required.

Anwendungsbereiche ABereiche Of Bead Bdauerhaft

Bead blasting has a wide range of applications, from aerospace to medical devices, from automotive parts to consumer electronics, and I have experienced the value of this surface treatment technology in many projects. It not only improves the appearance and texture of the product, but also enhances the functionality of key parts.

Fuktionelle Behandlungen Use

Entfernung Of Oxide LAyers And SDein Gesicht Contaminants
When processing metal parts such as aluminum, stainless steel and titanium, surface oxide films and residual cutting oils can significantly affect product performance. I use glass beads (60–100 mesh) for bead blasting, which can effectively remove the 0.5–2 μm deep oxide layer on the surface without damaging the substrate. It is suitable for pretreatment before electroplating, anodizing and coating.

Homogenisieren SDein Gesicht Textur And Ebegrenzen KLeben Marks.
CNC machining often leaves knife marks and uneven textures, which are not beautiful, especially in mirrored or visual parts. I will choose finer-grained ceramic beads or glass beads (100-170 mesh) and control the spray angle at about 60° to achieve a uniform matte effect of about Ra 1.6 μm, taking into account both beauty and function.

Verbessern The Bandauernd SStärke Of CHafer Or AKlebstoffe
For workpieces that need to be glued or sprayed, bead blasting can introduce a micro-concave and convex surface to improve adhesion. The data I tested showed that after the PBT shell was bead blasted, its coating peel strength increased by about 27%, greatly extending the durability of the product under humid and thermal cycling conditions.

Anwendungsbereiche LNDUSTRIE

Luft- und Raumfahrt (Such As TItanium AIloy Parts)
In aviation projects, especially titanium alloy connectors or shells, I use ceramic bead blasting instead of traditional sandblasting, which can effectively remove stress concentration points and increase fatigue life by more than 15%. It is a widely used process in the supply chain of Boeing and Airbus.

Automobil (Engine Hgut, Sstrukturell Parts)
For the engine hood and aluminum heat dissipation structural parts in high-temperature areas, I use glass bead blasting combined with anodizing pre-treatment process to ensure that the paint film adhesion reaches ASTM D3359 grade 5B and avoid corrosion risks caused by delamination.

Medizintechnik Devices (Bdank One Screws, Housings)
In medical projects, such as PEEK bone screws, titanium alloy housings, etc., bead blasting not only removes machining marks, but also improves surface hydrophilicity, which is conducive to cell attachment. We use glass beads with a particle size of about 150 mesh to ensure that the Ra after treatment is controlled within 1.0 μm.

Präzision ELektronik And IInstrument HousingsIn
the consumer electronics and instrumentation industries, the housing surface requires a uniform appearance and feel. I often use fine-grained glass beads (100–170 mesh) to process CNC aluminum parts, which brings an extremely consistent matte effect and is compatible with laser marking and silk screen printing.

Umwelt PRotation And Sschicke CÜberlegungen

Although bead blasting is more environmentally friendly than traditional sand blasting, in the actual processing process, dust control, media recovery and operator health protection are still the core links that I attach great importance to.

Produktion PRotation SStandards

Wearing protective gear and protective masks is a mandatory requirement.
High-speed rebound particles and dust will be generated during the bead blasting process. For the operator’s respiratory system and eye safety, we uniformly distribute closed goggles and positive pressure breathing masks that meet the EN166 standard. In addition, all operators must wear anti-static dust-proof clothing, and regularly change gloves and hoods to avoid glass dust adhesion.

The working environment must have exhaust and dust recovery capabilities.
We use a HEPA high-efficiency Filtersystem and a central dust removal device for linked recovery. The system’s filtration accuracy reaches more than 99.97% of 0.3-micron particles, ensuring that the particle concentration in the working environment is less than 5 mg/m³, which is far below the GBZ 2.1 occupational health limit standard.

Umwelt Performance RAnforderungen Of Media

As lead, cadmium, hexavalent chromium, mercury, etc. Some projects even require SGS material testing reports as part of the customer audit. Glass beads are mostly made of lead-free soda-lime glass, which is not only chemically inert, but can also be recycled more than 20 to 30 times, greatly reducing processing costs and environmental burden.

Avoid using media containing free silica.
Especially when customers have EU market requirements, we completely prohibit the use of materials containing free silica (such as quartz sand) to prevent the occupational risk of aspiration lung disease (such as silicosis) for operators and ensure long-term health.

As environmental regulations become increasingly stringent, the green execution of surface treatment has become one of the important criteria for evaluating supplier capabilities. Our TIRAPID can not only provide customers with bead blasting solutions that meet EU standards, but also provide fully traceable environmental protection and safety control records in the manufacturing process, helping products to pass international market access audits.

FAQs

What Is Shot Blasting And Metallizing?

Shot blasting cleans or strengthens surfaces using steel shots, while metallizing applies a protective metal layer like zinc or aluminum. I often use this combo on structural parts to enhance corrosion resistance, extending their lifespan by 3 to 5 times.

Is A Shot Blasting Machine Portable?

Yes, portable machines exist and I’ve used them on-site for large structures like tanks and bridges. However, they have lower power and precision compared to fixed systems, making them better for maintenance than fine finishing.

Why Should You Choose Shot Blasting For Your Metal Finish?

Shot blasting enhances coating adhesion and surface durability. In my experience, it introduces compressive stress that improves fatigue resistance by over 15%. It’s my go-to method before powder coating.

Was ist Perlenstrahlen?

Bead blasting projects spherical media—usually glass—at high speed to produce a clean, matte finish. I use it frequently for aluminum and stainless steel parts that need visual consistency without altering dimensions.

Is Bead Blasting Better Than Sandblasting?

Bead blasting is gentler and best for cosmetic finishes on precision parts. Sandblasting is more aggressive and better for rust removal or heavy-duty prep. I choose based on part material and surface function.

What Are The Disadvantages Of Bead Blasting?

It doesn’t etch or remove heavy contaminants well. On harder materials, it’s less efficient. When I need aggressive cleaning or paint prep, I switch to aluminum oxide or steel grit instead of glass beads.

Can You Get Silicosis From Sandblasting?

Yes. Sand with crystalline silica can cause silicosis if inhaled. I strictly avoid silica-based media and use enclosed systems with HEPA filtration to meet OSHA safety standards.

What Happens If You Sandblast Your Skin?

It can cause severe abrasion or embed particles in tissue. I always require operators to wear full PPE—gloves, face shields, and coveralls—to prevent any direct exposure.

What Is The Safest Sandblasting Material?

Glass beads made from soda-lime are among the safest—non-toxic, silica-free, and reusable up to 30 times. I use them often for eco-friendly surface prep, especially on aluminum parts.

Is Sand Blasting Bad For Your Health?

Yes, if done without proper controls. Inhalation of dust can cause lung damage. That’s why I only operate enclosed blast systems with ventilation and require respirators during blasting tasks.

Fazit

Bead blasting is an efficient, environmentally friendly and highly consistent surface treatment method, which is widely used for beautification and pretreatment of the surfaces of various materials such as metals and plastics. Its advantage is that it can improve the overall texture and additional processing performance of parts without changing the size. If you want to improve the appearance of your product or enhance the spraying effect, you may want to try bead blasting.