In many metalworking and foundry workshops, the turntable shot blasting machine is a very common surface-treatment equipment. Many customers see the machine operating, but they still don’t fully understand what it really does.
Explanation of Turntable Shot Blasting Machine
Turntable shot blasting machine is a metal surface-cleaning equipment that uses high-speed steel shots, thrown by a blasting turbine, to remove rust, oxide scale, sand, and burrs from the workpiece surface. The parts are placed on a rotating turntable, and the machine cleans all sides of the workpieces evenly during rotation.
What Is a Turntable Shot Blasting Machine?
Turntable shot blasting machine is equipment that uses high-speed steel shots thrown by the blasting turbine to clean the surface of metal parts. The workpieces are placed on the turntable, and during cleaning the table rotates at a stable speed, allowing all sides of the parts to receive even blasting.
This type of machine is especially suitable for parts that are flat, heavy, or require precision surface finishing, such as:
- Castings
- Gears
- Automobile parts
- Valve bodies
- Die-casting components
- Heat-treatment parts
How Does the Machine Work?
The working principle is very straightforward:
- Put the workpieces on the turntable.
- Close the door to start the blasting cycle.
- The turbine wheel rotates at high speed, throwing abrasive to remove rust, scale, sand, and burrs.
- The turntable keeps rotating so the blasting coverage is uniform.
- After blasting, the machine automatically separates the steel shots and dust.
- Open the door and take out the cleaned parts.
The whole process is fully enclosed, safe, and highly efficient, with stable operation and low manual labor.
Why Do Workshops Prefer This Machine?
According to actual experience in daily production, this machine has several advantages:
- Uniform Cleaning
The turntable rotates smoothly, ensuring all sides of the part receive blasting evenly. - Simple Operation
Workers only need to load parts and press start—operation is easy to learn, reducing training time. - Stable and Durable
The blasting chamber and turntable use wear-resistant materials, suitable for long-time continuous work. - Good for Precision Parts
Because parts stay in fixed positions, the blasting intensity is controllable, avoiding unnecessary collisions. - Wide Application Range
Many industries can use it: foundry, automotive, hardware, aerospace components, and machining workshops.
Typical Problems Seen in Workshops
From real maintenance experience, engineers often encounter these issues:
- Blasting effect becomes weak → turbine blades wear out
- Table rotation is unstable → turntable bearings need lubrication
- Shot flow becomes uneven → separator or elevator blocked
- Dust inside the chamber → filter bags need replacement
Most issues are caused by daily wear, so regular inspection and simple maintenance can keep the machine running well.
Conclusion
If you are working in a metal finishing workshop, you will see the turntable shot blasting machine very often. It is a practical and reliable surface-cleaning machine with stable performance and wide application. For castings, precision components, and small batch production, it is one of the most efficient solutions.
Turntable Shot Blasting Machine – FAQ
1. What is a turntable shot blasting machine?
It is a surface-cleaning equipment that uses high-speed steel shots thrown by the blasting turbine. The workpieces are placed on a rotating turntable to achieve uniform blasting on all sides.
2. What types of parts are suitable for this machine?
Mainly flat parts, small to medium castings, gears, die-casting components, precision hardware, auto parts, and parts that require stable positioning during blasting.
3. What is the cleaning effect like?
The cleaning is very uniform because the turntable keeps rotating. All sides of the part can receive steel shot impact evenly, removing rust, scale, sand, and oxide layer effectively.
4. How long is one blasting cycle?
Normally 3–10 minutes, depending on:
- material hardness
- surface rust level
- desired surface roughness
- turbine power and shot flow
5. Does the machine damage the workpiece?
Usually no. The turntable type is gentle because the workpieces stay in fixed positions. As long as the shot size and turbine speed are set correctly, the surface will be clean without deforming or scratching.
6. What abrasive is commonly used?
Most workshops use:
- cast steel shot
- steel grit
- mixed abrasive (improves cleaning efficiency + reduces cost)
7. How to ensure stable cleaning quality?
Engineers usually check:
- wear condition of turbine blades
- shot flow amount
- turntable speed
- separator and elevator performance
- dust collector performance
Stable parameters mean stable cleaning.
8. What daily maintenance is required?
From real workshop practice:
- Lubricate bearings weekly
- Check wearing parts (blades, control cage, liners)
- Clean dust filter bags
- Ensure abrasive circulation is smooth
- Inspect chamber sealing rubber regularly
9. What are the most common issues?
- Weak blasting → turbine blades worn
- Turntable not rotating smoothly → gearbox or bearing issue
- Dust leakage → worn sealing strips
- Abrasive not circulating → elevator or separator blockage
10. How long do wearing parts last?
Usually:
- Turbine blades: 400–1000 hours
- Side liners: 800–1500 hours
- Control cage: 600–1200 hours
Actual life depends on abrasive quality and running time.
11. Can the machine be customized?
Yes. Most factories can customize:
- turntable diameter
- loading capacity
- number of turntables (single or double)
- number of turbines
- automatic loading/unloading
- PLC control system
12. Is the machine easy for workers to operate?
Very easy. Loading the parts and pressing start is the main operation. It is suitable for workshops with frequent job changes and small batch production.
13. What industries normally use this machine?
- Foundry
- Automotive
- Hardware and tools
- Heat treatment
- Pump and valve
- Precision machining
- Aerospace components (small parts)