Future of Wheelblast Peening

Author:  Kumar Balan | Blast Cleaning and Shot Peening Specialist
Source:  The Shot Peener magazine, Vol 38, Issue 4, Fall 2024
Doc ID:  2024030
Year of Publication:  2024
Abstract:  
Background The image of a shot peening machine seldom includes centrifugal blast wheels. Instead, it is more common to see blast nozzles articulating in an automated arrangement with sophisticated work handling systems. In an effort to provide a balanced training experience, I start my first class at the shot peening workshops enquiring about the volume of wheelblast machine users in the audience. Along with the small fraction of hands that are raised, I am often greeted with quizzical stares offering validation that I had just introduced them to a new concept! Though wheelblast machines have been used for shot peening long before nozzles became prominent, their lower population can be attributed to the dominance of Aerospace peening applications. In Aerospace, barring a fraction of wheelblast peening machines for structural components and landing gear, the majority of applications use compressed air type media propulsion. Therefore, it is not surprising that much has been documented and reported on airblast peening techniques and less with blast wheels. I started my career working with wheelblast machines and later got introduced to airblast. This has provided me the opportunity to understand the subtle nuances of both types of propulsion systems while appreciating the role different process variables play in both, particularly in shot peening. A detailed discussion can be found in a two-series article1, and I will try to incorporate some new perspectives on such machines through interviews with wheelblast equipment manufacturers and end-users.