, Sandblasting machines with cabin
The project requirement
Explanation: In a conventional blasting cabinet, access to the working area is normally provided through a hinged door.
This configuration is effective for many applications, but can become less practical when bulky or heavy components have to be handled, or when external handling equipment is required.
A large hinged door requires free space in front of or beside the machine in order to open completely. The component must also be brought into the correct position relative to the working area.
As component size increases, it becomes essential to design not only how it will be blasted, but also:
- How it will be brought up to the machine;
- How it will be introduced into the cabinet;
- How it will be positioned;
- How it will be oriented during treatment;
- How it will be removed at the end of the process.
The technical response: the vertical door addresses this requirement by providing unobstructed frontal access to the working chamber without requiring the space normally occupied by a large open hinged door.
Application analysis
The design of a cabinet with vertical opening must start from the characteristics of the component.
The first variables to assess are dimensions, weight, geometry, centre of gravity and handling method.
A heavy component may require an overhead crane, hoist, forklift truck or dedicated loading system. A part with complex geometry may instead need to be rotated several times in order to present all the surfaces to be treated to the operator.
The space available within the facility can also influence the machine configuration.
A vertical door mainly uses the space above the cabinet for its movement, keeping the area immediately in front of the opening free for loading operations.
The internal rotary table introduces a second design element: once the component has been positioned, its orientation can be changed inside the treatment area without necessarily removing and repositioning it.
The solution designed by FEVI
The FEVI machine features a large treatment chamber with a vertically operated front door.
The mechanical system dedicated to lifting the door is clearly visible in the upper section, with transmission elements arranged across the top structure. Automatic control allows opening and closing to be managed without requiring manual movement of a panel of this size.
When the door is raised, the entire front area of the cabinet becomes accessible for loading and unloading operations.
Inside the cabinet there is a circular rotary table for positioning the component.
The operator station is positioned to the side of the large opening and includes:
- Viewing window;
- Two glove ports;
- Dedicated controls;
- Pneumatic connections;
- Foot control.
The lower part of the cabinet has a converging geometry designed to manage material within the system.
The complete configuration shows how FEVI has integrated chamber accessibility, vertical door movement, component positioning and the blasting station into a single machine.
How the system works
The cycle can begin with the automatic opening of the vertical door.
The large front opening allows the component to be brought up to the working area and positioned on the rotary table.
Once loading has been completed, the door is closed and the machine is prepared for treatment.
The operator monitors the component through the viewing window and uses the glove ports to work inside the cabinet.
The rotary table makes it possible to progressively change the orientation of the component, presenting the different surfaces to the operating area.
This principle can be particularly useful when the component is not easy to handle manually or when its geometry requires numerous changes of position.
Once the cycle has been completed, the door can be raised again and the component removed from the chamber.
Why use an automatic vertical door?
Choosing a vertical door is not simply a different way of opening the cabinet.
It is a solution that changes how the component can be handled in front of the machine.
With a large conventional door, the space required by the movement of the door leaf must also be taken into account. With a vertical closure, this space requirement is transferred mainly upwards.
The front area can therefore be dedicated to loading and handling the component.
Automatic opening becomes particularly important when the door reaches dimensions and weight that make practical manual operation unsuitable.
In a customised system, the closure system therefore becomes a genuine process function, designed together with the component dimensions and handling requirements.
The role of the rotary table
The internal table allows the component to be treated while remaining inside the working area.
The operator can change the orientation of the component and progressively access the different surfaces.
This approach can reduce the need to remove the component, reposition it externally and load it back into the cabinet.
For bulky or heavy components, this can become particularly important.
The vertical door and rotary table therefore perform two complementary functions: the first facilitates access to the cabinet, while the second facilitates orientation of the component once loaded.
- Large working-area opening;
- Front access to the blasting chamber;
- Reduced lateral space requirement compared with a large hinged door;
- Possibility of designing the loading process around the component;
- Automatic door movement;
- Possibility of positioning bulky components on the internal table;
- Component rotation during treatment;
- Reduced need to remove and reposition the component;
- Greater freedom in designing the loading area;
- Integration between component handling and the blasting process.
System features
| Element | Configuration |
|---|---|
| Type | Custom industrial blasting cabinet |
| Main opening | Front |
| Door | Automatic vertical door |
| Lifting system | Integrated into the upper structure |
| Loading area | Large front opening |
| Work support | Internal circular table |
| Component handling | Rotation on the table |
| Operator station | Side |
| Visual inspection | Viewing window |
| Manual access | Two glove ports |
| Operator control | Machine controls and foot pedal |
| Treatment chamber | Closed during operation |
| Cabinet bottom | Converging configuration |
| Abrasive | To be defined according to the application |
| Useful dimensions | To be defined according to the component |
| Table load capacity | Data not available |
| Table automation | Data not available |
| Opening system | Automatic |
| Process | Abrasive blasting or shot blasting depending on the required configuration |
Possible applications
A cabinet with a large vertical opening and rotary table can be considered when the dimensions, weight or geometry of the component make loading through a conventional door difficult.
The configuration can be particularly suitable for:
- Large mechanical components;
- Castings;
- Valve bodies;
- Flanges;
- Gearboxes;
- Moulds;
- Welded structures;
- Fabricated metal components;
- Circular components;
- Heavy industrial components;
- Parts requiring treatment on several sides;
- Components that need to be rotated during abrasive blasting or shot blasting.
The final configuration must nevertheless be defined by analysing weight, dimensions, material, required surface result and the handling systems available within the facility.
When the challenge is not only blasting
In more complex industrial applications, blasting represents only one stage of the process.
Before reaching the surface to be treated, it is necessary to understand how the component will be physically handled.
For this reason, together with the cabinet, FEVI can also assess systems such as:
- Rotary tables;
- Roller conveyors;
- Trolleys;
- Rails;
- Lifting systems;
- Automatic doors;
- Pneumatic handling systems;
- Dedicated component-positioning devices.
System design therefore develops from the interaction between the component, operator and process.
A machine designed around the component
A customised cabinet should not force the customer to artificially modify their production cycle in order to adapt it to the machine.
The FEVI approach instead starts from the component.
Dimensions, weight, shape, material, surface to be treated, loading method, abrasive and required productivity are used to define the most appropriate configuration.
In the case of the blasting cabinet with automatic vertical door, chamber accessibility and component handling become integral parts of the design.
This approach makes it possible to move from simply supplying a blasting machine to creating a surface-treatment solution designed around the application.
Custom system or standard blasting cabinet?
A special-purpose machine is only necessary when the application requires it.
For smaller components that are easy to handle, a standard blasting cabinet may be sufficient, possibly configured with specific accessories.
FEVI can therefore assess different levels of solution:
- Manual blasting cabinets;
- Professional blasting cabinets;
- Systems with abrasive recovery;
- Cabinets with rotary tables;
- Semi-automatic systems;
- Shot blasting cabinets;
- Systems with dedicated handling equipment;
- Automatic abrasive blasting and shot blasting systems;
- Fully customised machines.
The ability to develop special-purpose systems also makes it possible to assess standard machines with the same logic: identify the solution that is genuinely required without adding unnecessary complexity.
Frequently asked questions – Blasting cabinet with automatic vertical door
What is a blasting cabinet with a vertical door used for?
It creates a large front opening while avoiding the space required by a large hinged door. This can facilitate the loading of bulky components or parts that are difficult to handle.
Why automate the cabinet door?
When the door is large and heavy, automated opening allows its movement to be managed without requiring the operator to lift it manually.
What is the advantage of the rotary table?
The table allows the orientation of the component to be changed inside the cabinet, progressively making different surfaces accessible without necessarily having to remove and reposition the component.
Can heavy components be loaded?
A cabinet of this type can be designed specifically to facilitate access for substantial components. However, the table load capacity and loading system must be sized according to the actual weight and geometry of the component.
Can the rotary table be motorised?
Different rotation and handling methods can be considered during the design stage. The choice depends on component weight, cycle frequency, ergonomics and the required level of automation.
Can this machine also be used for shot blasting?
This depends on the system configuration, the material to be treated, the required result and the abrasive used. FEVI can configure cabinets and systems for different abrasive blasting and shot blasting processes.
Does FEVI manufacture cabinets with customised dimensions?
Yes. Where a standard configuration is not sufficient, chamber dimensions, opening, handling system, worktable and other elements can be designed around the component and production cycle.
Do you have a component that is difficult to load or handle in a conventional cabinet?
A larger door alone is not always the solution.
Accessibility, component weight, loading method and the need to rotate it during treatment must be assessed together.
FEVI can analyse the application and develop the most appropriate configuration, from a standard cabinet to a customised abrasive blasting or shot blasting system.
TELL US ABOUT YOUR PROJECT
For an initial assessment, you can provide:
- Photographs of the component;
- Material;
- Dimensions;
- Approximate weight;
- Quantity to be treated;
- Current handling method;
- Required surface result.
We start from the component to define the machine.
