Drew,
You asked about bead blasters for finishing SLA prototypes. We bought a
unit from Uni-Hone that we really like. I also have heard that the vapor
blasters work very well, but this type of unit was a bit of an environmental
issue for us at Motorola. We obtained info on a variety of units from
various manufacturers, and narrowed the field down to three units. The
final scores are listed below. Following the final scores is the detailed
criteria list and actual scores for each unit for each criteria. I hope
this info helps you in some way. Feel free to call if you want specifics or
phone numbers.
E. Derek Smith
Motorola Radio Products
Ft. Lauderdale, Florida 33322
(954) 723-4790
email: eds014@email.mot.com
Equipment Weighted Score
Rue Melin - "Dental" unit 1396
Uni - Hone 2400C 1441 (THE ONE WE PURCHASED)
Zero - Pulsar III 1252
These scores were generated using a requirements list generated by my
finishing team. They had a good idea of some of the things they did and
didn't want based on the last couple of bead blasters we had in our
prototype center. While they may have been able to just pick one, I thought
this was a good opportunity for them to make the decision process a little
more objective. They identified a list of requirements, and assigned a
weight to each criteria based on its importance, 10 being the highest.
These are listed below. Sorry for the lousy formatting, this was copied and
pasted from an Excell document.
Equipment Criteria: Criteria Weight
Air: Adjustable flow 6
Air: inline filter for shop air 8
Air: regulated pressure 8
Cabinet: chamber size 10
Cabinet: light 8
Cabinet: material 8
Cabinet: pressure sensor 6
Controls: easy to access 6
Controls: foot switch 6
Controls: safety switch 8
Door: clearance needed? 5
Door: safety switch 5
Door: when opened, media stays in 5
Filter bag shaker: manual 6
Filter bag shaker: automated 8
Filter bag shaker: none 0
Hose: air hose for blowing off dust 6
Maintenance: change filter 6
Maintenance: change gloves 6
Maintenance: change media 6
Maintenance: change nozzle 6
Maintenance: clean filter 8
Media: adjustable flow 6
Media: easy to change 6
Media: separator 8
Media: storage volume 6
Media: variety of sizes 4
Media: variety of types 4
Motor: horsepower 6
Nozzle: difference sizes available 6
Nozzle: see material in hose 5
Power Requirements: standard 6
Unit: # sold, Co. history 0
Unit: cost 5
Unit: dry 5
Unit: footprint 8
Unit: plastic construction 0
Unit: sealed 8
Unit: self contained 8
Unit: service 5
Unit: warranty 5
Unit: weight 4
Unit: welded contruction 5
Window: material 8
Window: size 8
The next task was to rate each of the three units against these criteria.
The rating for the unit was multiplied by the weight assigned to that
requirement, providing a weighted score. These ratings are provided below.
Again, bear with the formatting.
Rue Melin - "Dental" unit
Raw Weighted
Equipment Criteria: Notes: Score Score
Air: Adjustable flow Yes 5 30
Air: inline filter for shop air Yes 5 40
Air: regulated pressure Yes 5 40
Cabinet: chamber size 20in x 20in 5 50
Cabinet: light Inside 5 40
Cabinet: material 16 Gage Steel 8 64
Cabinet: pressure sensor Yes 6 36
Controls: easy to access Yes 8 48
Controls: foot switch Yes 5 30
Controls: safety switch On door 5 40
Door: clearance needed? Front mount 8 40
Door: safety switch Yes 5 25
Door: when opened, media stays in Yes 8 40
Filter bag shaker: manual Yes 5 30
Filter bag shaker: automated No 0
Filter bag shaker: none No 0
Hose: air hose for blowing off dust Internal 8 48
Maintenance: change filter Front Door 8 48
Maintenance: change gloves Yes 5 30
Maintenance: change media Yes 5 30
Maintenance: change nozzle Yes 5 30
Maintenance: clean filter Yes 8 64
Media: adjustable flow 0
Media: easy to change 0
Media: separator Yes 5 40
Media: storage volume Yes 5 30
Media: variety of sizes Yes 5 20
Media: variety of types Yes 5 20
Motor: horsepower 1/3 H.P. 4 24
Nozzle: difference sizes available Yes 5 30
Nozzle: see material in hose No 4 20
Power Requirements: standard 115 Volt 5 30
Unit: # sold, Co. history 0
Unit: cost $2,040 8 40
Unit: dry Yes 0
Unit: footprint 21W x 37D x 66H 10 80
Unit: plastic construction No 0
Unit: sealed Yes 5 40
Unit: self contained Yes 8 64
Unit: service Yes 6 30
Unit: warranty 0
Unit: weight 307 lbs 5 20
Unit: welded contruction Yes 5 25
Window: material Protected by screen 5 40
Window: size 7" x 13" 5 40
Total Score: 1396
Uni - Hone 2400C
Raw Weighted
Equipment Criteria: Notes: Score Score
Air: Adjustable flow 5 30
Air: inline filter for shop air 5 40
Air: regulated pressure 1/2" nozzle : 1/4" air 5 40
Cabinet: chamber size 25H x 24W x 24D 8 80
Cabinet: light 5 40
Cabinet: material 1 Piece, 10 Ga. steel 0
Cabinet: pressure sensor With safety switch 8 48
Controls: easy to access 8 48
Controls: foot switch Treddle 8 48
Controls: safety switch 0
Door: clearance needed? Side open: 24x17 5 25
Door: safety switch Pressure Sensor 8 40
Door: when opened, media stays in Yes 6 30
Filter bag shaker: manual 0
Filter bag shaker: automated Pneumatic 8 64
Filter bag shaker: none Yes 8 0
Hose: air hose for blowing off dust Yes 8 48
Maintenance: change filter 5 30
Maintenance: change gloves 5 30
Maintenance: change media 5 30
Maintenance: change nozzle 5 30
Maintenance: clean filter 5 40
Media: adjustable flow Automatic 6 36
Media: easy to change Front Gage 8 48
Media: separator Automatic 10 80
Media: storage volume Yes 8 48
Media: variety of sizes No 5 20
Media: variety of types 0
Motor: horsepower 1/2 H.P. 0
Nozzle: difference sizes available Yes 5 30
Nozzle: see material in hose Yes 5 25
Power Requirements: standard 110 Volt 5 30
Unit: # sold, Co. history 0
Unit: cost $4,400 0
Unit: dry Yes 5 25
Unit: footprint 27 x 35 6 48
Unit: plastic construction No 6 0
Unit: sealed Yes 6 48
Unit: self contained Yes 8 64
Unit: service Yes 8 40
Unit: warranty 1 Year 0
Unit: weight 210 lbs 0
Unit: welded contruction Yes, 1 piece 6 30
Window: material Replacable Glass 8 64
Window: size 12 x 18 8 64
Total Score: 1441
Zero - Pulsar III
Raw Weighted
Equipment Criteria: Notes: Score Score
Air: Adjustable flow Yes 5 30
Air: inline filter for shop air Yes 5 40
Air: regulated pressure Yes 5 40
Cabinet: chamber size 36W x 35D x 37H 8 80
Cabinet: light Yes 5 40
Cabinet: material Steel, 16 Ga 8 64
Cabinet: pressure sensor Yes 5 30
Controls: easy to access Yes 5 30
Controls: foot switch Yes 5 30
Controls: safety switch Yes 5 40
Door: clearance needed? 32.5 inches 4 20
Door: safety switch Yes 5 25
Door: when opened, media stays in No: see shop unit 3 15
Filter bag shaker: manual 0
Filter bag shaker: automated Yes 6 48
Filter bag shaker: none 0
Hose: air hose for blowing off dust Yes 6 36
Maintenance: change filter Repl. Cartridges 6 36
Maintenance: change gloves Yes 5 30
Maintenance: change media Yes 5 30
Maintenance: change nozzle Yes 5 30
Maintenance: clean filter 0
Media: adjustable flow Yes 6 36
Media: easy to change Yes 6 36
Media: separator 0
Media: storage volume 0
Media: variety of sizes 0
Media: variety of types 0
Motor: horsepower 1/2 H.P. 6 36
Nozzle: difference sizes available Yes 6 36
Nozzle: see material in hose 0
Power Requirements: standard 110 Volt 5 30
Unit: # sold, Co. history 0
Unit: cost $4,430 5 25
Unit: dry Yes 5 25
Unit: footprint 11.25 x 10 feet 2 16
Unit: plastic construction No 0
Unit: sealed 5 40
Unit: self contained 5 40
Unit: service Yes: local, Ft. Laud. 8 40
Unit: warranty 1 year 6 30
Unit: weight 665 lbs 4 16
Unit: welded contruction Yes, 16 Gage 8 40
Window: material Safety glass 6 48
Window: size 19.5 x 12.5 inches 8 64
Total Score: 1252
Well, there you have it, hope it helps.
________________________________________________________
To: rp-ml@bart.lpt.fi@INTERNET
From: ConReality@greatid.com@INTERNET on Thu, Nov 21, 1996 11:33 AM
Subject: bead blaster
Anyone out there have any recommendations for a reasonable bead
blaster/vapor blaster to be used for SL finishing?
The name and phone number equipment manufacturer sales contact would be
appreciated.
Drew Brown
Conceptual Reality L.L.C.
Phone:(810)926-8820
Fax:(810)926-8830
http://www.dentonco.com/cr/conceptu.htm
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