Abrasive Blasting, Shot Peening & Surface Prep worked example

Blast Air Pressure Loss at 12% maximum acceptable loss: a worked example

This scenario runs the blast air pressure loss calculation on the strong side: 12% maximum acceptable loss, with every other input held at its documented default. a blast technician is checking whether pressure drop is large enough to slow production or risk profile nonconformance

The inputs for this scenario

  • Measured pressure drop: 12 psi (unchanged)
  • Target nozzle pressure: 100 psi (unchanged)
  • Maximum acceptable loss: 12 % (raised for this scenario; the documented default is 10)

Working through the calculation

  • Applying the documented formula (Pressure loss = measured pressure drop รท target nozzle pressure) to the inputs above produces each figure below.
  • At this operating point the engine returns 12 % for pressure loss, the number this scenario is built around.
  • At this operating point the engine returns 0 points for margin to limit.
  • At this operating point the engine returns 12 psi for measured drop.
  • At this operating point the engine returns 100 psi for target nozzle pressure.

How this compares with the baseline

  • Against the tool's baseline example, where maximum acceptable loss sits at 10% and the headline result is 12 %, this scenario lands almost exactly on the baseline at 12 %.
  • Use it during a productivity check or when blasting feels slow, after measuring nozzle pressure with a hypodermic needle gauge against the compressor output. Treat this as a target state: the delta against the baseline quantifies what the improvement is worth before you commit to chasing it.

Results at a glance

  • Pressure loss: 12 % (headline result)
  • Margin to limit: 0 points
  • Measured drop: 12 psi
  • Target nozzle pressure: 100 psi

Run it with your numbers

  • Every input above is editable in the live Blast Air Pressure Loss calculator, which recalculates instantly and can be shared with the inputs intact.

Last reviewed 2026-05-12.