SHOT PEENING – BLASTING FOR LONGER COMPONENT LIFE

High speed and highly controlled, the process of shot peening has many similarities to the aerospace, automotive, and aviation components it is used on. The machines require absolute precision and reproducibility much like the components they are preparing for long life and changing loads.

Shot peening is a special shot blasting process in which spherical blast media is thrown at the surface of metallic work pieces. The impact energy of the pellets “cold forms” the upper layers of the metal similar to hammering and forging processes.

The metal is alternately stretched and compacted causing a compressive stress in the upper surface layers. This offsets any inherent tensile stress as well as external tensile or compressive loads acting on the work piece. The process increases fatigue strength and significantly reduces the risk of stress cracks.

Depending on the components and the loads they are exposed to, shot peening can increase fatigue life by up to 1,300 percent.

The reduction of the tensile stress on a metal surface by 350 MPa through shot peening improves the fatigue life of a component by 560 percent as shown in the graph below.

Drive components (i.e. gears) are often subjected to the shot peening process in order to induce compressive stress, which considerably reduces the risk of fatigue cracks during their operation. The service life of many components such as gearbox components, drives and crank shafts, springs, turbine blades, and turbine components in general can be significantly increased through shot peening processing.

From blisks and drill bits to gears and stabilizers and more, Rosler Metal Finishing offers a variety of shot peening machines in addition to consumables, spare parts, and service.