Equipment Performance

Quick Tips From Our Tech Support Team

Do you remember how your sandcarving system performed when it was new? A new sandcarving system blasts clean, sharp abrasive to make quick and accurate cuts. The inside of the cabinet is bright and the viewing window is clear.

If your system isn’t cutting as cleanly as it once was, or if the visibility isn’t what you’d like it to be, it’s time to do some simple maintenance checks. Doing so will bring the clean, sharp feel and performance back to your sandcarving system. Be proactive about completing routine maintenance; you don’t want to get stuck in the middle of a large job!

The following maintenance tips are provided by your equipment support team at Rayzist Photomask
Quick tips:
  • If you are experiencing an inconsistent air/sand flow, check the blasting nozzle for wear.
  • A worn nozzle increases airflow and presents the possibility of the mask to lift or blow off.
  • If the inside of your cabinet is excessively dusty, check the abrasive for wear.
  • If the inside of your cabinet looks cloudy, check your dust filtration bags.
  • If the light inside your cabinet is dim, check the lamps for frosting.
  • If there is dust on the floor around your cabinet, check the door seal and arm sleeves for wear.
  • Keep a replacement Foot Switch Valve (FSV) and tube sleeve on hand.
Read on for detailed information on each of these topics.

Blasting Nozzle Wear

The two parts of your system that may need to be replaced most often are the blasting nozzle and the abrasive.

If you use your system daily, be sure to check your blasting nozzle for wear up to every 40 hours. Note that silicon carbide abrasives cause nozzle wear more quickly than aluminum oxide abrasives. Signs of nozzle wear include inefficient blasting performance and increased incidence of mask lift or blow off.

Over time, the force of the abrasive running through the 3/32 tungsten carbide nozzle can increase the circumference of the nozzle. Rayzist sandblast systems have a recommended setting of equal parts air and abrasive. If the nozzle circumference increases to 1/8 of an inch or larger, the air and abrasive mixture may not flow consistently. More specifically, the air flow will increase and loose sand will be present in the abrasive mixture.

To check your blasting nozzle for wear, insert a 3/32 drill bit inside the nozzle.
  • If the drill bit fits perfectly, with no wiggle room, your nozzle is not worn.
  • If there is space around the drill bit, then the nozzle is worn and should be replaced.

Another option to consider is, Roc Nozzle. ROC nozzle is made from advanced durable composite material; this tip is 3/32 in diameter. The ROC nozzle is specifically engineered to minimize pressure loss caused by nozzle wear, Lasts up to 15 times longer than the Tungsten Carbide nozzle by maintaining the nozzles inter diameter.

Abrasive

If you use your system heavily (daily, several hours a day,) check your abrasive at least every three to five months, again it depends on usage. This is a very loose guideline, as different types of projects will cause your abrasives to break down more quickly. Stone projects, for example, are tougher on the abrasive than glass projects.

To check your abrasive for wear, examine the texture of your abrasive material.
  • A new bag of abrasive is a loose grain, with the consistency of salt.
  • Worn abrasive has a powdery and/or dusty texture. This can cause excessive dust on the inside of your cabinet.

Dust Filtration Bags

If you use your system daily, replace the HEPA dust filtration bag every 14 months. Also, remember to use the shaker handle daily to loosen the debris that clings to the inside of the bag.

Rayzist sandblast systems use woven polyester (excluding 1924) HEPA dust filtration bags that have a PTFE Teflon lining. After several months of filtration, the lining may become worn and require replacement. A worn lining will cause decreased air flow, which allows dust to back up into the cabinet. The cabinet may then become cloudy. In some cases, the excess dust can pit the window.

Note: 2034, 2034VW and 2648VX SGP systems are equipped with a plug that leads to the disposable liner. Make sure the plug is pulled. If the plug is inserted, it stops the dust from falling into a bag. You may not notice the difference right away, but eventually the trapped dust will back up into the cabinet. Pull the plug and place the disposable liner on the disk. If a replacement bag is needed, Rayzist Photomask can supply you this purchase.

Window

As noted above, excessive dust within the cabinet can cause pitting in the window. This is more likely if you blast projects very close to the window. Periodically, check the window visually for pitting.

Rayzist windows are a two-part glass. The top two glass sheets are laminate and a 1/8-inch, single-strength glass window pane. A pitted window pane is easy and inexpensive to replace; Rayzist can supply the glass or you can order the size you need from your local glass supply store.

Lamps

If the light inside your cabinet is not bright enough, you may need to replace the halogen bulb. After long periods of use, the halogen lamps on the inside of the cabinet can become frosted. This is an easy fix; you can purchase a replacement lamp at a local hardware store. Select a replacement that is 100 watts.

Seals

If there is dust on the floor around your cabinet, check the door seal and arms sleeves for wear.

The cabinet doors are lined with open cell foam, which can wear over long periods of time. Replacement open cell foam can be purchased through Rayzist Photomask (picture not shown)

Rayzist systems have padded arm rests with yellow, glove-less sleeves in the arm holes. The sleeves are durable enough to withstand sandblasting, but the elastic around the wrist may become loose over time. The gap caused by a loose sleeve can allow the abrasive to slip through. Contact us for replacement sleeves.

Replacement Parts to Keep on Hand

To avoid production delays, you should keep an upgraded Foot Switch Valve (FSV) and tube sleeve on hand.

After long periods of use, the original bottom foot switch valve and/or diaphragm gasket can fail. If that happens, you will need to upgrade to a Foot Switch Valve (FSV). If you already have the FSV, then you should consider keeping an extra tube sleeve on hand. Depending upon usage, the tube sleeve can go bad after one year.

With routine maintenance, your sandblast system can look and perform like new.

Article by Liz Haas Learn Sandcarving by Rayzist Photomask

Learn Sandcarving Article

by Liz Haas

Rayzist Photomask

Rayzist Photomask Learn Sandcarving Article

Rayzist.com | info@rayzist.com | 800-729-9478