What is the difference between shot blasting and shot peening?

 “What is the difference between shot blasting and shot peening?”. In this blog post, Growell Vietnam will break down the differences between a blast machine vs. a shot peening system, and steer you on the path toward a successful surface finish.

What is shot blasting?

Before moving onto further production like painting, a metal surface needs to be clean and smooth. Shot blasting cleans off contaminants, removes coatings, or deburrs the surface. The process takes compressed air and shoots an abrasive media like aluminum oxide blasting or glass beads. The media cleans the metal surface, leaving it ready for further processing.

What is shot peening?

Shot peening is typically done with steel shot and steel grit. The most effective methods use wheel blasting systems that essentially throw the media at the part. This type of media uses this process due to its high weight/density. Shot peening both cleans and strengthens (or work hardens) the surface of a material by applying stress to its surface. During the production process, residual stress can develop, placing higher levels of stress on certain areas of the part. Shot peening remedies this problem.

Pros and Cons of shot blasting and shot peening

Abrasive blasting is ideal for situations where a coating needs to be stripped, machining marks need to be removed, or a specific surface finish is needed. This type of blasting works well for large and small parts in blast cabinets and with portable blasting systems.

Shot peening works best with heavy parts or large batches of parts such as brake calipers or similar. This process works well to clean the parts, remove scale, and provide a work hardened surface. Shot peening is typically not used with more delicate or smaller parts.

Contact us:

Growell Vietnam Co.,Ltd

Hotline: (+84) 932 289 569

Email: growellvietnam@gmail.com

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