Wheel blast machines differ in how the part moves in front of the wheel. Everything else follows from that: which parts you can process, and how fast.

Tumble barrel

Parts sit in a rotating barrel. The wheel throws the abrasive, and the parts tumble, exposing every face.

For: small, robust parts in bulk. Castings, forgings, stampings.

Not for: fragile, long or bendable parts. Inside the barrel they hit each other.

Continuous barrel

Same principle, but loading and unloading happen without stopping the machine. Parts go in at one end and come out at the other.

Several designs exist. The newest is the agitator type: a hexagonal chamber inside, shaken from below, with the shot thrown through openings in the upper part.

The agitator version takes up less space, and the wheel position works more efficiently.

For: continuous production, high volume, small and medium parts.

Spinner hanger

The wheels are fixed. Parts rotate in front of them, suspended, so that every side gets blasted.

For: parts that cannot be tumbled. Most large castings are unsuitable for a barrel.

Self-propelled monorail hook

Parts hang from hooks that travel along a rail, through the blast enclosure.

For: large, heavy or long parts. Welded structures, frames, profiles.

Blast room

The enclosure is a room the part enters whole, on a trolley or a conveyor.

For: very large parts, or irregular geometries where nothing else fits.

How to choose

Three questions, in order:

How much does the part weigh, and what are its dimensions? This eliminates half the options.
Can it be tumbled? If not, you need a hanger, a hook or a room.
What part throughput per shift? This decides between batch and continuous.

Types of wheel blast machines