D&S Mfg. installs wire mesh belt blaster

D&S Mfg., a custom manufacturer of large-scale components, assemblies, and complete weldments in Black River Falls, Wis., has installed a custom Pangborn ES-2050 wire mesh belt blaster. The machine is the result of a strategic collaboration among Metcast of New Berlin, Wis.; Pangborn Corp. of Fairburn, Ga.; and a team of D&S employees.

In the process of engineering this unit, the group incorporated several design features to help simplify system maintenance and improve performance. The blast cabinet features an open hexagonal design that gives operators easy access to the unit for maintenance. A large-diameter, lower-RPM wheel reduces kinetic energy. This helps maximize the longevity of the shot media while reducing noise pollution when the system is in operation.

The installation, which coincided with the completion of D&S's recent expansion program, has enabled the company to eliminate two of its four more specialized shotblasting systems. Now parts from flat plate to complex weldments as large as 144 in. long by 48 in. wide by 36 in. high are processed more efficiently using a continuous-motion conveyor system. System capacity has doubled, and reduced labor requirements have allowed employees to reallocate time toward cross-training.