The invention relates to a removable electro-mechanical device for burnishing and smoothing metal parts, said device comprising: a tank (2) containing an electrolytic solution and the cathode (c); a main body (3) which closes the tank (2), and in which the electrical contacts (6), the mechanical components and the drive systems (5) are incorporated, said drive systems being located in the lower portion of the main body (3) and being vertically and radially secured to a part (7) such that, in addition, when said body (3) is coupled to the tank (2), they remain immersed in the solution; and a detachable head (4) that can be coupled to the main body (3) and includes an electric motor (14) linked to a rotating body (15) and a removable, coupleable, rod-shaped supporting structure (41) or anode (a) having securing means (42) for the parts to be treated, and being disposed in such a way that, when said head (4) is coupled to the main body (3), the parts remain immersed in said solution.

Systems and method for tool path approximation may comprise approximating the outer surface of a part to be worked. The outer surface may be approximated by a plurality of airfoils. Moreover, the system and methods approximate a tool path based on a cutting tool and convert the tool path to accommodate a non-cutting processing tool. The tool path may be implemented on a computer numerically controlled machine that is configured to control a flexible fork peening tool.

A tool for an ultrasonic impact grinding machine driven to vibrate along a longitudinal axis includes a hollow tool body and a hollow tip extending from an end of the hollow tool body. The hollow tip has an outer surface comprising a plurality of grooves. The hollow tool body and the hollow tip are disposed about the longitudinal axis and the hollow tip and hollow tool body are each defined in part by a common bore extending along the longitudinal axis.

The invention relates to a roller burnishing tool (10) having a roller support (12), which projects in an advancement direction (V) and on which, in a circumferential direction, at least one burnishing roller (14) for machining a workpiece surface is provided such that it can rotate about a roller axis (A), wherein the at least one burnishing roller (14) has a contact surface for coming into contact with the workpiece. According to the invention, the at least one burnishing roller (14) has a basic cylindrical shape and the at least one burnishing roller (14) is mounted such that it can be moved in a radial direction (R).

In some examples, a material may be subject to shot peening of a relatively long duration to improve cavitation erosion resistance of the material. For example, the material surface may be shot peened to cause grain reduction and an increase in hardness to a depth of 60 m or more, while the surface remains relatively smooth. As one example, the method may include treating a surface of austenitic stainless steel by impacting the surface with shot media for a treatment duration of 15 to 40 minutes at a shot peening intensity corresponding to an Almen strip type A intensity of 5A to 10A.

A method and apparatus for processing a metallic workpiece with defined edges (e.g., a gear) comprises media blasting of the workpiece by directing a first media against exposed surfaces on the workpiece to increase the root strength of the gear, the blasting causing the defined edges to be radiused or mushroomed, ceasing the media blasting, loading the workpiece into a finishing apparatus, and subjecting the workpiece to a finishing process with a second media, the exposed surfaces on the workpiece being subjected to the finishing process to reduce the radiused edges on the workpiece created from the media blasting. The process of moving the workpiece to the spindle-finishing apparatus from the media blasting may be performed automatically by a machine. Once the workpiece has been subjected to the finishing process with the second media, it may be removed from the spindle-finishing machine, washed, and rinsed with rust inhibitor whereby wear properties of the workpiece are enhanced.

A method for welding a first powder metallurgical (PM) part to a second powder metallurgical (PM) part includes: working a first face of the first PM part; working a first face of the second PM part; and friction welding the first face of the first part to the first face of the second part.

An apparatus for imparting compressive residual stress to at least a surface portion of a first plurality of balls includes a first body having a first surface, the first surface including a smooth contact portion, the smooth contact portion being substantially flat or convex and having a surface hardness greater than or equal to the initial surface hardness of the balls. The apparatus also includes a second body having a second surface, the first surface overlying the second surface, and at least one drive operably connected to the first body or to the second body and configured to move one of the first and second bodies relative to the other body at a substantially fixed distance, the at least one drive also being configured to move the first body toward the second body with a force or to move the second body toward the first body with the force.

A method for controlled peening includes forming a surface layer on a workpiece by impacting a surface with a tool wherein the tool is under control to form compressive residual stresses in the surface layer. A system for peening a workpiece includes a tool configured to vibrate and an effector operatively connected to control the tool. The tool includes a peening surface. The tool is configured to cause controlled impact between the peening surface and a surface of a workpiece to form a surface layer of the workpiece with compressive residual stresses. The effector is configured to move the tool in multiple axes.

A method and apparatus for processing a metallic workpiece with defined edges (e.g., a gear) comprises media blasting of the workpiece by directing a first media against exposed surfaces on the workpiece to increase the root strength of the gear, the blasting causing the defined edges to be radiused or mushroomed, ceasing the media blasting, loading the workpiece into a finishing apparatus, and subjecting the workpiece to a finishing process with a second media, the exposed surfaces on the workpiece being subjected to the finishing process to reduce the radiused edges on the workpiece created from the media blasting. The process of moving the workpiece to the spindle-finishing apparatus from the media blasting may be performed automatically by a machine. Once the workpiece has been subjected to the finishing process with the second media, it may be removed from the spindle-finishing machine, washed, and rinsed with rust inhibitor whereby wear properties of the workpiece are enhanced.