Automatic Glass Sandblasting Machine

Is this the right machine for your shop?

A vertical sandblasting machine handles glass the way most glass shops already handle it — standing up. If your team is already moving panels vertically on A-frames and racks, this machine fits that workflow without forcing you to redesign your floor.

It is a good fit if you

• Process architectural glass: shower enclosures, partitions, door panels, mirrors, signage
• Work with large panels that are awkward to lay flat
• Run medium to high volume and need repeatable, consistent frosting
• Have limited floor space — an upright machine occupies far less area than a horizontal line of comparable capacity
• Do both full-surface frosting and masked decorative patterns

It is probably not the right fit if you

• Mainly do small items — drinkware, awards, plaques. A blast cabinet suits that work better and costs a fraction as much.
• Produce occasional one-off pieces rather than steady production
• Need to blast non-glass substrates as your primary work

If you are unsure which side of that line you fall on, tell us what you make and how much of it. We would rather talk you out of the wrong machine than sell you one that sits idle.

Applications

• Full-surface frosted glass
• Partial decorative sandblasting with masking film
• Shower glass and partition glass
• Door panels, mirror borders, and signage glass
• Medium to high volume glass workshops

How vertical glass sandblasting works

Glass is loaded upright onto the conveyor. As the panel travels through the blast chamber, oscillating nozzles sweep across the surface, driving abrasive against the glass at controlled pressure. The abrasive fractures the surface into a uniform matte texture — that is what produces the frosted appearance.

Three variables determine the result: abrasive grit size, working pressure, and travel speed. Coarser grit and higher pressure cut faster but leave a rougher texture. Finer grit and slower travel produce a smoother, more even frost. Most shops settle on one or two proven combinations for their standard products and rarely change them.

Spent abrasive falls into the recovery system, gets separated from glass dust and broken media, and returns to the hopper for reuse. Dust goes to the collector. This is why abrasive cost per panel is far lower than the price per bag suggests — the media is recycled many times before it stops cutting.

Full-surface frosting versus masked patterns

For an evenly frosted panel, the glass goes through bare. For logos, patterns, or partial frosting, the areas you want to stay clear are covered with sandblast resist masking film, cut to shape on a film cutting plotter. The film absorbs the abrasive; the exposed glass frosts. Peel the film and the design is permanent in the glass.

Main Features

Models

Model	Max. glass height	Machine length	Operation
VS1630A	1600 mm (63 in)	3000 mm (118 in)	Automatic
VS2036A	2000 mm (79 in)	3600 mm (142 in)	Automatic
VS2536A	2500 mm (98 in)	3600 mm (142 in)	Automatic

Glass height is the number that matters. It sets the largest panel the machine can take, so pick the model from the tallest glass you actually run. Machine length is a support-table dimension — the glass travels through side to side — so it affects floor space, not capacity.

A manually operated model, the VS1520M (1500 mm glass height, 2000 mm long), is also available for shops with lower or irregular volume. Ask us if that fits your work better than an automatic machine.

Technical Data

Maximum glass height	1600 to 2500 mm (63 to 98 in) depending on model
Minimum glass size	Approx. 200 × 500 mm (8 × 20 in)
Glass thickness	Common range 3 to 28 mm (1/8 to 1-1/8 in); some configurations support thicker flat glass
Working pressure	0.6 to 0.8 MPa (87 to 116 psi)
Reference productivity	About 25 m²/h (approx. 270 sq ft/h) depending on pattern, abrasive, and operator setup

Photos and Working Examples

Consumables and Support

Common parts include spray guns, boron carbide nozzles, sand tubes, air tubes, electromagnetic valves, dust collector valves, driving belts, PLC parts, and touch screens.

What comes with the machine

Every machine ships with roughly three years of wear parts for normal production — nozzles, tubes, belts and similar consumable items. You are not placing a spares order in month two.

After that, wear parts are ordinary industrial standard components. They are inexpensive and you can source them locally if you prefer. There is no proprietary parts lock-in. See Warranty & Support for full coverage details.

Warranty

Motors, the control system, and the drives carry a five-year warranty. Those are the components that determine whether the machine runs, and the expensive ones to replace — which is why they carry the longest coverage.

Lead time and delivery

Machines are built to order: typically 10–30 days to produce, plus 20–30 days ocean transit depending on whether you are on the West or East Coast. ArtCut handles customs clearance. Full detail on Shipping & Lead Times.

Support once it arrives

Installation guidance, operator training, and troubleshooting are available from the U.S. during U.S. business hours — by phone, WhatsApp, or video. You are not filing a ticket into a time zone eleven hours away and waiting overnight for a reply.

Frequently asked questions

Should I choose the vertical or the horizontal machine?

It depends on how your shop already moves glass. Choose vertical if you handle large architectural panels upright and floor space is tight. Choose horizontal if you run high volumes of flat, repetitive work and want simpler loading, particularly for smaller pieces. Tell us your typical panel sizes and monthly output and we will tell you which one actually fits.

What abrasive should I run?

Most glass frosting uses brown fused alumina in common grit sizes. Grit choice controls how fast you cut and how fine the finished texture looks. If you tell us the finish you are aiming for, we will recommend a starting grit rather than making you experiment through several bags.

Do I need a film cutting plotter as well?

Only if you do masked or partial designs. Full-surface frosting needs no film at all. For logos, patterns, or partial frosting you need masking film and something to cut it — that is what the film cutting plotter does. Many shops start with the sandblasting machine and add the plotter once decorative work grows.

What compressor do I need?

The working pressure this machine requires is listed in the technical data above, but required air volume depends on the model and nozzle configuration you choose. Tell us what compressor you already run and we will confirm whether it is sufficient before you order — this is a common and expensive thing to get wrong.

How much glass can it process per hour?

Reference productivity is listed in the technical data, but real output depends on finish depth, glass size, and whether you are frosting fully or blasting through a mask. Give us a representative job and we will estimate realistic throughput rather than quote a best-case number.

Can it handle tempered or coated glass?

Sandblasting is a surface abrasion process and works on most flat soda-lime glass. Coated and low-E products need care, because blasting will damage the coating unless that is your intent. Tell us the specific glass you run and we will confirm suitability.

Related guides

• Vertical vs Horizontal Glass Sandblasting — which orientation suits your shop
• How to Choose a Glass Sandblasting Machine — the five questions that decide which model fits
• What Does a Glass Sandblasting Machine Cost? — what drives the price, including freight and duties
• Abrasive Grit Size Chart — 24# to 120#, and the finish each produces
• Air Pressure and Nozzle Settings — pressure, travel speed and why banding happens