Shot Peening of Transmission Parts
Shot Blasting Ensures High Quality

Shot peening for automotive parts include benefits such as higher tensile strength, less wear and longer fatigue life as well as less component weight.

Peugeot PSA in Valenciennes, France, is utilizing a Rösler shot peener to peen transmission parts. During the peening process, the part surface is "hammered" with  spherical blast media. Each sphere leaves little "dimples" (cold forming) on the surface, under which compressive residual stresses are generated. Such compressive stresses have many benefits. For example, they prevent cracks or fissures in the material; they offer protection against fatigue problems, and they prevent corrosion. The higher tensile strength also allows a reduction in the component weight.

The system utilized at Peugeot has a rotational double chamber with pneumatic seal and safety light curtain. This concept minimizes time for material handling: While one part is peened in one chamber, another part can be loaded/unloaded in the other chamber. The system allows the processing of 120 parts/h. The actual blasting time is 15 - 25 seconds. To achieve total coverage the peening system is equipped with four blast guns, which oscillate horizontally and vertically. The media is "thrown" at the parts with an Almen intensity of 0.25 - 0.30 Almen A at a quantity of 13kg/min per nozzle. A coverage of 200% is achieved which ensures that all parts are peened with the same efficiency, and the results are completely repeatable. To ensure that media is continuously fed to the guns  a double pressure pot is utilized. A low-level sensor in the lower pressure vessel signals the system to provide material from the pressure vessel at the top. The top vessel then is replenished with media from the media hopper. The complete peening system is in full compliance with ATEX regulations. The controls include a Siemens S7 PLC with OP 270. A maintenance platform facilitates maintenance work.