Foundry & Forging calculator

Shot Blast Capacity Calculator

Count finished shot-blast batches within the planned production window. Enter the approved batch count, complete cycle, separate stops and first-pass cleaning inspection counts.

What this calculator does

  • Plan complete parts batches and projected first-pass output from measured time and inspection counts.

Formula used

  • Available cycle time = planned production time − separate stop time
  • Complete cycles = floor(available cycle time ÷ complete cycle duration)
  • Processed units = complete cycles × units per cycle
  • First-pass yield = accepted sample units ÷ inspected sample units
  • Projected accepted units = floor(processed units × first-pass yield)

Inputs explained

  • Parts per Cycle: Qualified count loaded into each complete machine cycle.
  • Planned Production Time: Shift plan for this machine and production window.
  • Separate Stop Time: Recorded stops outside the measured complete cycle.
  • Complete Cycle Duration: Timed start-to-next-start cycle including routine handling.
  • Historical Inspected Parts: Matched inspection sample for the same tooling and process.
  • Historical First Pass Parts: Sample count accepted without repeat processing or repair.

How to use the result

  • Best suited to batch blast planning, repeat-pass capacity review.
  • Continuous conveyors and overlapping chamber handling require their own timing model. This arithmetic does not establish media settings or a qualified cleaning process.

Current U.S. benchmarks

  • The producer price index for steel mill products stands at 381.162 (BLS, Aug 2026), up 23.4% from a year earlier. Quotes priced off last quarter's material cost miss this move.
  • The U.S. has 3,569 primary metal manufacturing establishments employing about 354,911 workers (Census County Business Patterns, 2023).

Common questions

  • Can I increase the batch count freely? No. Use a loading pattern qualified for the machine limits and the required surface coverage.
  • Does blast-wheel running time equal the cycle? No. Add handling and media-drain time that delays the next batch.
  • How do repeat blast passes affect acceptance? Parts needing another pass are excluded from first-pass acceptance even when eventually recovered.
  • Can I use this for a continuous line? No. This model counts complete sequential batches; a continuous line needs a measured discharge rate.

Last reviewed 2026-10-06.