Ice Blasting

[Robotstar5]

Dry Ice Blasting

Thought I'd start a new thread after questions about dry ice blasting in another.
We had Cryogenesis in on Friday to clean our welding fixtures so I took my camera in.

The state of the robot welding fixtures even though the operators are supposed to clean them at end of shift



Dry ice blasting machine powered by compressed air - lots of it!



The "business" end, different shape/size nozzles used depending on application, the top attachment is a torch.



Pellets come in an insulated box, also handy for big picnics



Different size pellets available, but using 3mm for this job, being loaded into machine hopper.



A couple of pics of blasting process





A different fixture, but before...



...and after



I'm sure they'll all be looking a lot worse by the end of next weeks production

 

[madkayaker]

Have been on jobs where that was being used to remove printer ink and it's very effective!

 

[Shox Dr]

I can understand the benefit as I take it there is little to clear up. But what happens to the moisture, when the ice turns back to water

 

[penfold]

Heard of dry ice blasting, but never ice blasting before; every day's a school day. What are the pros and cons?

 

[rtbcomp]

If you follow the link it is dry ice blasting.

 

[Robotstar5]

Sorry for the confusion, amended accordingly

 

[mrcheese]

Never heatd of that before. Very clever.

 

[MattF]

I can understand the benefit as I take it there is little to clear up. But what happens to the moisture, when the ice turns back to water

Dry ice isn't made from water, hence the term dry. (I'm assuming the question was likely asked before the thread was amended?).

 

[Shox Dr]

ey

 

[brightspark]

good old wiki

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dry_ice

 

[Wozzaaah]

We use that process to clean the moulds at work. Effective but very noisy!

 

[Robotstar5]

We use that process to clean the moulds at work. Effective but very noisy!

Too right, have to wear ear defenders anywhere in the factory

 

[oz.]

I've heard of them using dry ice blasting to remove chewing gum off pavements before. Then if it's not working they freeze it with liquid nitrogen and scrape. Slight price difference though.

 

[brightspark]

I've heard of them using dry ice blasting to remove chewing gum off pavements before. Then if it's not working they freeze it with liquid nitrogen and scrape. Slight price difference though.

dunno why they dont make roads and coatings out of chuddy bloody stuff never comes off