A method of altering an additively manufactured part can include orienting a surface of the additively manufactured part toward a rotational center that may be independent of a rotational axis defined by the additively manufactured part, flowing an abrasive media past the surface, rotating the additively manufacturing part about the rotational center; urging abrasive particles in the abrasive media past the surface abrasive media to impinge the surface with centrifugal force generated by the rotating, and improving surface finish of the surface.

To provide an impeller for use in a blasting apparatus and being capable of more efficiently accelerating abrasives.

An impeller 30 has an external shape of a circular disk shape with a predetermined thickness, and has an abrasive entry port 31. Plural abrasive flow channels 32 are formed at predetermined spacings around the circumferential direction of the impeller 30 so as to pass through within the thickness. Each of the abrasive flow channels 32 has an inlet 32a communicated with the abrasive entry port 31 and an outlet 32b opening onto an outer peripheral face. These abrasive flow channels 32 are provided so as to be greatly inclined with respect to a radial direction of the impeller 30 such that an end on the outlet 32b side of the abrasive flow channel faces rearward in a rotation direction of the impeller. This greatly reduces the rotation resistance, and efficiently accelerates the abrasive and compresses air inside the abrasive flow channels 32, thereby accelerating the abrasive by both centrifugal force and ejection of compressed air.

A wheel assembly for a centrifugal blast wheel machine includes a blast wheel and several blades configured to throw blast media introduced into the blast wheel against a work piece. Each blade includes a first side having a first rail portion that extends along a length of the first side and a second side having a second rail portion that extends along a length of the second side. Each rail portion has a locking member positioned on an outside surface of the rail portion adjacent a first end of the blade. Each rail portion further has a contact surface that is configured to engage a surface of a seat of the blast wheel. Each blade further includes a positioning knob located on the first contact surface to prevent the blade from inadvertently being removed from the seat.

The present invention is a centrifugal projector (1) for projecting projection material (2) toward a processing target, comprising a side plate (11), a plurality of blades (3) attached to the side plate, a rotary shaft (14) for rotating the side plate and the blades, and an introducing part (32) for introducing the projection material between the blades; wherein the blades (3) includes a projection surface (3a) for projecting the projection material, and the projection surface (3a) has a first part (3b) being a radial inner part of the blade and a second part (3c) being a radial outer part of the blade; the first part (3b) is formed to be pitched so that a radial outer side (3e) of the first part is positioned to a rear in the rotational direction (R1) compared to a radial inner side (3f) of the first part, and the second part (3c) of the blade is formed to be positioned to a front in the rotational direction (R1) of an imaginary line (L1) which extends the first part (3b) of the blade toward a radial outer side of the projector.

The centrifugal projector (1) of the present invention has: a side plate (11), a plurality of blades (3) attached to the side plate (11), a control cage (41-45) disposed on a radial inner side of the side plate for releasing the projection material between blades from an opening portion (41a-45e), a distributor (22), disposed on a radial inner side of the control cage, for mixing and supplying the projection material to the control cage, and a rotary shaft (14) for rotating the side plate, blades and distributor; wherein the blades are formed to be pitched so that a radial outer side (3c) thereof is positioned to a rear in the rotational direction (R1) compared to a radial inner side (3b) thereof; the control cage (41-45) has a plurality of opening windows (41a-45e), or a single opening window in which a portion or all of a plurality of opening windows are respectively overlapped and integrated into a single piece.

An impeller for a centrifugal blast wheel machine includes a hub provided at one end of the impeller, with the hub being configured to be coupled to the motor. The hub further includes a ring provided at an opposite end of the hub, with the ring defining a media inlet to receive blast media. The impeller further includes a plurality of cylindrical vanes positioned between the hub and the ring. The plurality of cylindrical vanes is spaced from one another on peripheries of the hub and the ring. The plurality of cylindrical vanes defines a plurality of impeller media outlets constructed and arranged to allow egress of blast media upon rotation of the impeller.

The present invention is a side plate unit (10) used in a centrifugal projector (1) which projects projection material (2) toward a processing target by rotating a plurality of blades (3), and the side plate unit (10) being provided to attach the plurality of blades thereto, the side plate unit (10) comprising: a pair of side plates (11); and a joining member (12) for joining the pairs of side plates; wherein guide channel portions (13) are respectively formed on mutually opposing surfaces of the pair of side plates (11); and the side plate guide channel portions (13) are formed to be pitched so that the radial outer side thereof is positioned to a rear in the rotational direction (R1) compared to the radial inner side thereof.

The present invention is a centrifugal projector (1) for projecting projection material (2) toward a processing target, comprising a side plate (11), a plurality of blades (3) attached to the side plate, a rotary shaft (14) for rotating the side plate and the blades, and an introducing part (32) for introducing the projection material between the blades; wherein the blades (3) includes a projection surface (3a) for projecting the projection material, and the projection surface (3a) has a first part (3b) being a radial inner part of the blade and a second part (3c) being a radial outer part of the blade; the first part (3b) is formed to be pitched so that a radial outer side (3e) of the first part is positioned to a rear in the rotational direction (R1) compared to a radial inner side (3f) of the first part, and the second part (3c) of the blade is formed to be positioned to a front in the rotational direction (R1) of an imaginary line (L1) which extends the first part (3b) of the blade toward a radial outer side of the projector.

Provided is a centrifuge media separator for separating blast particulate from fine particulate carried by air flowing from a blast cabinet and through the media separator. The centrifuge media separator comprises an upper panel, a lower panel, and an outer wall. The upper panel has a central opening formed therein. The outer wall is configured in a truncated logarithmic shape and which extends between the upper and lower panels. The outer wall has at least one particulate escape aperture formed therein. The upper panel, lower panel and outer wall collectively define a curvilinear air passageway having an inlet and an outlet. An air foil extends from the outer wall in to the air passageway. The distance than the air foil extends in to the air passageway is adjustable. The inlet is configured to allow a flow of air to enter the air passageway and circulate therethrough toward the outlet. The escape aperture is configured to exhaust the blast particulate out of the passageway. The central opening is configured to exhaust the fine particulate out of the passageway.

The centrifugal projector (1) of the present invention has: a side plate (11), a plurality of blades (3) attached to the side plate (11), a control cage (41-45) disposed on a radial inner side of the side plate for releasing the projection material between blades from an opening portion (41a-45e), a distributor (22), disposed on a radial inner side of the control cage, for mixing and supplying the projection material to the control cage, and a rotary shaft (14) for rotating the side plate, blades and distributor; wherein the blades are formed to be pitched so that a radial outer side (3c) thereof is positioned to a rear in the rotational direction (R1) compared to a radial inner side (3b) thereof; the control cage (41-45) has a plurality of opening windows (41a-45e), or a single opening window in which a portion or all of a plurality of opening windows are respectively overlapped and integrated into a single piece.