The Most Suitable Projects for Robotic Abrasive Blasting

Many sectors, including oil and gas extraction, water and wastewater treatment, the maritime industry, and power production facilities, may benefit from robotic abrasive blasting. However, it is vital to keep in mind that robotic abrasive blasting is not simply a matter of industry but rather a matter of application.

Drilling and profiling

When it comes to tasks like pipe and tank interiors, robotic abrasive blasting is the best method. “There are two reasons why a robot might be useful in these situations.” In the first place, it’s more time and money efficient than hand blasting.

When the coating is removed from them, these places may also include dangerous compounds, such as lead or radioactive materials. Ed Zaharias, senior manager of Sponge-Jet, noted that using a robot to remove things like this minimizes the number of man-hours exposed to these risks.

Reduced Access to Restricted Spaces

Robotic abrasive blasting from Vertidrive is an excellent choice for jobs that need entrance into a small area. All blasting contractors should place a high value on minimizing the number of man-hours spent in tight spaces. Confined spaces, rather than slips and falls, account for more worker fatalities than any other single hazard, according to Zaharias. Workplace safety will improve dramatically because of the 60-90% reduction in man-hours that robotic blasting in restricted places will provide.

Small Or Large Pipe Project

It is a problem for blasters to blast through small-diameter pipes. Pipes smaller than 48 inches in diameter are difficult to work in, and in rare cases, the pipe is so tiny that no one can go through it. As the abrasive blasting robot enters the restricted area rather than a person, there is greater and safer access to the constrained location.

Large-diameter pipes, on the other hand, have their own set of issues. When you reach a diameter of 12 feet or more, you’ll need scaffolding to blast the top of the pipe inside, and you’ll also need scaffolding to manually blast the top of the pipe.That’s because it’s time-consuming and labor-intensive, “Zaharias said. Robotic blasting systems are also capable of blasting up or down gradients that would be difficult for a human operator to do.

A robot can blast at speeds ranging from 6.5 to 8.5 times quicker than a single human. As a result, blasting pipe interiors is much more efficient, no matter how big the pipe is.

Expanded Capabilities

Robotic abrasive blasting improves productivity and worker safety while also allowing for more flexibility on the project site. In the beginning, the Robotica from Sponge-Jet was intended to blast pipe interiors. Because of its versatility in blasting flat surfaces, the robot has been modified for use in the tank industry as well, “said Zaharias. As an added benefit, the Robotica can work at effective blast pressures up to a distance of 2,000 feet from the feed unit.