The art of decorating glass by sandblasting is a long tradition, and in the age of advanced technology, this technique has developed into a complex and sophisticated art form. In this context, the Glassblaster MI80RL machine, developed by DYNAMIKI from Greece, represents an innovation that opens new doors for glass artists and craftsmen.
The glass blasting process is a complex technique with well-defined steps that aims to create patterns, textures and artistic designs on the glass surface. This method involves using an abrasive material, such as sand or fine grains, to change the appearance of the glass.
Here are the main stages of the glass blasting process.
Preparing the glass
At this stage, the glass to be blasted is meticulously prepared. The surface of the glass is cleaned and degreased to allow better adhesion of the abrasive material.
Creating the model
An essential step is to create the pattern or stencil that will be applied to the glass. This template can be made from various materials such as waterproof paper or adhesive film. It will protect certain areas of the glass from the action of the abrasive material, thus revealing the desired patterns or textures.
Applying the template
The template is carefully affixed to the surface of the glass, making sure it covers the areas we want to keep untreated. These areas will remain glossy, while the rest of the surface will undergo the sandblasting process.
The sandblasting process
Using 2 fully automatically controlled guns or a sandblasting gun, the machine applies the abrasive material to the surface of the glass with a controlled pressure.
The abrasive material consists of quartos sand which can have different grain sizes. The sand particles hit the glass with varying intensity, depending on the desired design, thus creating unique textures and patterns.
Final details and finishing
Once the sandblasting process is complete, the template is carefully removed. The glass is then meticulously cleaned to remove any abrasive residue. At this stage, the details can be manually adjusted and finished to achieve the desired look.
Protection and Completion
To prevent further damage and maintain the result of the sandblasting process, the glass is protected by applying special finishing treatments. These treatments can also provide extra shine and durability to the surface.
Now let’s see some important aspects about the Glassblaster MI80RL machine. It was designed around five essential components, each contributing significantly to the glass blasting process:
- Sandblasting booth with input and output conveyors
- Touch Screen control for recipes, operation and maintenance
- The efficient sandblasting sand recovery system
- Equipped with 2 fully automatic sandblasting guns and 1 manual gun
- Dust control for maximum efficiency through its own filter station
As a whole, these components blend harmoniously to provide an efficient and high-quality glass blasting experience. The Glassblaster MI80RL rises to the complex demands of the blasting process, ensuring operators can achieve precise and aesthetic results on glass surfaces.
Need information and advice for your glass processing business? Join the Facebook group Glass Processing – Technical Advice where you can chat with specialists in glass industry!