Shot peening / controlled peening
What is shot peening?
Peening (strengthening abrasive blasting) is primarily used in the aerospace, space, energy, mining, and automotive industries. Components that most often require the shot peening process include various types of springs, drive shafts, crankshafts, gears, connecting rods, steering system parts, gearboxes, turbine blades, rotors, vanes, and others.
Shot peening utilizes the energy contained in a stream of abrasive particles, which are propelled onto the surface of the material under pressure or centrifugal force. Unlike standard shot blasting, the key in shot peening is the control of the medium used (size, shape, hardness), intensity (energy – monitored via Almen strips and saturation curve), coverage (minimum 98%), and the process parameters during treatment (e.g., pressure, wheel speed, table or robot feed rate, media flow, etc.). Requirements for monitoring before, during, and after the process vary depending on the client.
The media (shots) used in the process come in various sizes, shapes, hardness levels, and materials, depending on the requirements.
Types of shot (material):
- Cast steel shot
- Stainless steel shot
- Conditioned cut wire shot
- Glass bead shot
- Ceramic bead shot
Shot peening is most commonly applied to:
- Springs
- Gears
- Torsion bars
- Turbine components
- Crankshafts
- Connecting rods
- Drive shafts
- Brackets and structural elements
What is the shot peening process?
The principle of shot peening is based on controlled, repeated impacts on the material’s surface using specially prepared shots. Each impact causes micro-deformations in the material’s structure, leading to expansion of the surface layer. The key factor is controlling the force and quantity of the shots to achieve the desired effects without excessively damaging the treated surface.
At first glance, shot peening appears very similar to standard shot blasting. During shot peening, the surface is “bombarded” with spherical shot particles. The resulting compressive stresses prevent and delay the formation of microcracks on the surface of treated components.
Stream shot peening is the most economical and practical method for introducing compressive residual stresses into a surface. These stresses also significantly improve corrosion resistance, including enhanced resistance to fretting wear and pitting wear.
Strengthening abrasive blasting is primarily used in the aerospace and automotive industries. Typical components include springs, drive shafts, crankshafts, gears, connecting rods, steering and gearbox parts, turbine blades, and more. Applying this process allows for a reduction in the weight of structural components while maintaining the same mechanical load capacity. Among other benefits, this weight reduction contributes to fuel savings.
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