In complex-shaped castings and welded components, certain hidden areas—such as crevices, folds, and shallow cavities—are difficult to reach with conventional shot blasting media. To address this challenge, we have developed an automated combined shot blast and peening application solution that achieves 100% surface coverage for thorough cleaning of castings.

This solution integrates a specially designed sandblasting unit within the same shot blast chamber. The unit is equipped with two high-efficiency nozzles mounted on a fixed or three-axis robotic arm, specifically targeting areas inaccessible to shot blasting media and requiring supplemental peening.

System Design:

Primary Cleaning/Strengthening: Utilizes centrifugal blast wheels to clean or reinforce large surface areas of workpieces.

Auxiliary Peening: Employs nozzle-based peening to address localized or hard-to-reach zones.

Integrated Operation: Both systems operate within a shared chamber and utilize unified recycling and workpiece control systems.

Key Components:

Blast Wheel Unit:

Configurable with single or multiple blast heads.

High-speed rotating blades generate centrifugal force to propel media at specific angles and directions.

Spent media is filtered, sorted, stored, and recirculated via a dual-stage (low/high) recovery system.

Peening Unit:

Features one or more nozzles mounted on a multi-axis robotic arm.

Used media is conveyed to the same recovery system and repressurized in a dedicated peening tank.

Advantages of the Hybrid System:

Complete Processing: Workpieces enter the chamber and exit fully cleaned or strengthened in a single cycle.

Enhanced Automation Utilization: Optimizes robotic handling systems (e.g., part gripping, placement, and transfer).

Time Efficiency: Simultaneous or overlapping operation of shot blasting and peening within a single chamber significantly reduces processing time.

Cost Savings: DISA’s hybrid system shares a specialized control system between blast wheels and peening nozzles.

Special Application Cases

1. Landing Gear Gears

Target Areas: Specific zones or entire outer ring of gears; occasionally includes main and cross holes.

Solution:

Robotic nozzles strengthen inner rings and cavities.

High-volume, high-coverage shot blasting reinforces outer rings.

2. Aircraft and Automotive Wheel Hubs

Process:

Blast wheels clean or strengthen hub outer surfaces.

Peening nozzles handle inaccessible areas.

Applicability: Ideal for components with large surface areas and complex structural parts.

Technical Highlights

Seamless Integration: Combined blast/peening execution in a unified workspace.

Programmable Trajectories: Robotic nozzle paths are defined via contour programming and stored using proprietary technology for future reuse or modification.

Shared Recycling: Media from both systems is recycled through an efficient closed-loop mechanism.

This solution exemplifies advanced surface treatment technology, ensuring precision, efficiency, and versatility for industrial applications demanding uncompromised quality.