Sure waterjet can clean, but can it peen?

Author:  Shot Peening Staff
Source:  The Shot Peener magazine, Vol 20 / Issue 1, Winter 2006
Doc ID:  2006001
Year of Publication:  2006
Abstract:  
Given enough pressure, water can clean with laser-like intensity and accuracy. Force it through an orifice with a diameter of 0.007" to 0.015" (0.18 - 0.4 mm) at pressures between 30,000 - 60,000 PSI (2000 - 4000 bar), and water becomes a high velocity beam that can quickly remove difficult coatings including adhesives, epoxies, felt metal, grease, paints, resin composites, rubber and thermal spray coatings such as abradables, ceramics, cermets, and metallics. Ultra-high pressure waterjet (UHP waterjet) cleaning is a relatively new technology-it didn't achieve recognition as a viable production tool until the 1980s-but it has already distinguished itself with several advantages over traditional abrasive and chemical cleaning methods: -Doesn't remove the base metal -Doesn't create a surface deformation -No abrasive deposits left on parts or in machinery -Eliminates the need for abrasives disposal -Uses an environmentally-friendly, reusable media - water! -Faster removal rates than chemical removal processes