Shot blasting technology plays a crucial role in enhancing the fatigue life and corrosion resistance of critical automotive components. Leading automotive OEMs and manufacturers globally have already integrated this process into their standard production lines, recognizing its importance in improving component performance and durability. Alongside other manufacturing equipment, shot peening systems now form an essential part of modern, automated production facilities.
As the technology continues to evolve, its application in the automotive industry has become a focal point, especially during the early design stages of vehicles, trucks, and motorcycles. Many engine parts are now designed with shot peening in mind, including crankshafts, connecting rods, transmission gears, piston rings, sun and planet gears, and leaf springs. Whether cast, forged, die-cast, or machined, these components require surface treatment through various types of shot blasting equipment to remove impurities, scale, and burrs, ensuring optimal performance.
Studies have shown that shot peening can significantly extend the fatigue life of key components: up to 600% for leaf springs, 1500% for transmission gears, and 900% for crankshafts. This not only improves component longevity but also enhances safety. Additionally, shot peening allows for lighter designs and the use of more cost-effective materials without compromising performance, making it a valuable tool in modern automotive engineering.
In the crankshaft manufacturing process, shot blasting is used to remove oxide layers after heat treatment. The crankshaft is placed on rotating rollers, and high-speed shot streams from the blast head clean all surfaces thoroughly. For large crankshafts, specialized machines with trolleys and rotating heads ensure full coverage. Smaller crankshafts, such as those measuring φ152–203 mm in diameter and 914 mm in length, are typically processed using spin-on blasting machines, where the component is suspended and rotated within a chamber, achieving a cleaning rate of up to 250 pieces per hour.
While the process control requirements for cleaning are less strict than for strengthening, modern shot blasting equipment still ensures quality by monitoring key parameters. Shot peening, however, demands more precise control. Two main factors determine its effectiveness: stress intensity, measured via the Almen test piece, and coverage rate, which indicates how much of the surface has been treated. These parameters are set by engineers based on the component’s design and material properties.
The shot peening process involves using pellets of controlled size and hardness (typically 50–55 HRC) to create a compressive stress layer on the component surface, counteracting tensile stresses during operation. This increases fatigue resistance and extends service life. Parameters like shot speed, strength, diameter, distance, time, and coverage must be carefully monitored to ensure consistent results.
With computer-controlled shot peening systems, manufacturers can achieve precise, repeatable outcomes, ensuring high-quality finishes. As a result, leading automotive companies have incorporated shot peening into their standard production processes, reinforcing its vital role in modern manufacturing.
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