Aluminium cut wire shot, available in different alloys and different hardnesses, are obtained by cutting some aluminium wire into pieces which are as long as the diameter.
Therefore it is remarkably different from cast aluminium shots, because grains have the same dimension and the same chemical-physical features.
Moreover, the nature of the material (drawn wire) and the production system exclude the presence of impurities and grains with inclusions, cavities, blowholes, cracks, etc.
Even if it has a cylindrical shape, this abrasive gets – during few working cycles – a spherical polyhedral shape. Such shape is then kept, even if there is a progressive reduction in the diameter, for the whole life cycle without crushing events.
Uses and Advantages
The aluminium cut wire shot, like cast aluminium shot, is characterised by a limited hardness and a low specific weight.
This feature makes it particularly suitable for sandblasting of aluminium and zamak alloy pieces when a light cleanliness is required with reduced surface roughness.
Aluminium cut wire shot offers the following advantages compared to other abrasives:
- remarkable consumption reduction compared to other types of abrasives;
- reduction in the consumption of spares parts for the sandblasting machine with consequent reduction in maintenance costs and machine standstill times.
- possible shot fixing into the holes of the sandblasted piece does not create problems for subsequent tool workings thanks to the high deformability and low hardness of aluminium.
The aluminium cut wire shot can be employed without distinction in wheel sandblasting machine, with free casting sandblasting machines and pressure compressed-air sandblasting cabins with an optimal performance.
Owing to technical reasons the same shots are not suitable to be used on suction pressure compressed-air cabins for sandblasting.
