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Sandblasting

Sandblasting

GCM, winning combo

Sandblasting is one of the various methods of surface treatment. The purpose of this operation is to texture the surface by means of percussion.
In other words, an abrasive is projected at high velocity onto a piece of jewellery using a gun and spray jets.
The sandblaster must be precise and thorough to produce quality pieces.
At Pichard-Balme, we work with three blasting abrasives: shot blasting, corundum and microblasting.

G
Shot blasting

This consists of small steel balls that are continuously blasted at high speed. As with corundum, the pressure is high to obtain a rough surface.

C
Corundum

The stamped parts are first processed by Electrical Discharge Machining (EDM).

M
Microblasting

Projection of glass beads onto a surface, with the aim of stripping the piece without damaging it. This last step allows us to obtain an aspect texture.

Our grains

Sandblasting with complete peace of mind

Sandblasting always involves research into the speed, power and nature of the grain to ensure that it is perfectly adapted to the piece.
The role of our sandblasting team is to place the piece in the sandblasting machine and texture it until the surface is completely sandblasted.
This is done in a blast cabinet using a suppression system which consists of pressurising a container with air in which the abrasive is stored and expelled via a hose and jet.

At Pichard-Balme we have been sandblasting since 1833. It is a steady and rigorous process, which, through repetition, generates automatisms until total mastery has been achieved.
Our sandblasters have developed their practical sense and are are able to understand manufacturing plans. We let them work independently, as they are critical enough to analyse the results of their work.
In any case, it is always quality control that can judge the conformity of the parts.