More On Choice of Media Propulsion

Author:  Kumar Balan | Blast Cleaning and Shot Peening Specialist
Source:  The Shot Peener magazine, Vol 38, Issue 2, Spring 2024
Doc ID:  2024010
Year of Publication:  2024
Abstract:  
INTRODUCTION To err is human, to forgive was the kindness of my General Manager (thank you, Mr. Spratley)! For those of us that have spent our careers evaluating applications and suggesting viable solutions, the choice of media propulsion is almost always obvious. Afterall, it is frivolous picturing a batch of aircraft blades or engine components tumbling under blast wheels with the pretext of being shot peened. Similarly, cleaning a 10' wide plate in a roller conveyor type machine cannot be practically accomplished with a bank of suction blast guns. However, not all parts are as simply proportioned and the logic clear as the above examples. Let us consider some aerospace applications—landing gear components could be peened in airblast as well as wheelblast machines and the same with aircraft structures. Peening auto transmission gears follows the same logic. Though my industry colleagues that work exclusively with wheel or air machines will make a convincing argument about the efficacy of one over the other, they will also agree that there are several other considerations before a determination can be made. This brings me to explain my first act of acknowledging my boss’ kindness.