How to determine the durability of a shot-blasting machine

The intensity of the shot peening process can be verified using Almen test strips. An Almen strip is a standardized specimen of specific dimensions and hardness, typically made of spring steel. During the test, the Almen strip is mounted in the same position relative to the blast stream as the actual workpiece, and the peening process is carried out using standard operating parameters. After peening, the arc height of the strip is measured using a specialized gauge to evaluate the peening intensity.

Additionally, peening intensity can be verified by plotting a "saturation curve." A saturation curve is generated by peening a series of steel strips for progressively longer durations and subsequently measuring their arc heights. The saturation curve demonstrates that the arc height of the strip increases with the duration of the peening process. Peening intensity is defined by a specific point (the saturation point) on this curve; this point quantifies the shot stream's ability to induce a deep layer of residual compressive stress. The greater the arc height at the saturation point, the greater the shot stream's capacity to generate a deep layer of residual compressive stress.