Gear Peening: The Intense Story

Author:  Kumar Balan, Product Engineer
Source:  The Shot Peener magazine, Vol 20 / Issue 3, Summer 2006
Doc ID:  2006024
Year of Publication:  2006
Abstract:  
Wheelabrator Group Equipment / Process Design & Specification Conformance Article originally published in Gear Product News and is reprinted with permission of the author. We commend Mr. Balan for advancing proper shot peening practices to the gear industry. Automotive designers have traditionally relied on the advantages of shot peening of transmission parts to enhance their useful life. Commonly, shot peening machines are found post-heat treat and at the end of a production process for critical parts such as ring and pinion gear sets. In peening circles, it is common knowledge that indentation of a metal surface by bombarding it with metal projectiles at high speed induces compressive stresses in the layer. With this as the basis of any shot peening application, it is not unusual to find any 'available' shot peening machine being put to active use to peen critical components. However, premature transmission failures and recalls are now prompting gear manufacturers to re-evaluate this seemingly simple process and develop it along the lines of an 'application based' approach for their peening needs.