A blasting processing method using shot media. A particle diameter distribution of the shot media before forming an operating mix is bimodal and substantially continuous, and both a first particle group corresponding to a first peak and a second particle group corresponding to a second peak are aggregates of particles in a shape having an angular part.

The peening apparatus includes a processing tank, a table, a moving unit including a nozzle moving device, a quill, a first head having a mounting hole and disposed at a distal end of the quill, a motor and a first spindle exposed from the mounting hole, a nozzle head portion separable from the moving unit and including a second head having a connection port connected to the mounting hole, a connecting shaft connected to the first spindle, a second spindle, a nozzle disposed below the second spindle, a nozzle flow path penetrating inside the second spindle and connected to the nozzle to be opened to an upper end of the second spindle, and a swivel joint disposed at an upper end portion of the second spindle and connected to the nozzle flow path.

The peening apparatus includes a processing tank, a table, a moving unit including a nozzle moving device, a quill, a first head having a mounting hole and disposed at a distal end of the quill, a motor and a first spindle exposed from the mounting hole, a nozzle head portion separable from the moving unit and including a second head having a connection port connected to the mounting hole, a connecting shaft connected to the first spindle, a second spindle, a nozzle disposed below the second spindle, a nozzle flow path penetrating inside the second spindle and connected to the nozzle to be opened to an upper end of the second spindle, and a swivel joint disposed at an upper end portion of the second spindle and connected to the nozzle flow path.

A shot peening apparatus capable of precisely controlling the amount of shots supplied projects, by a shot impeller, shots onto a workpiece, and has a bucket elevator which conveys the shots to a predetermined height, a motor which drives the bucket elevator, and a control device which controls the current value of the motor. The control device issues an alert when the current value of the motor becomes lower than a predetermined current value.

The inventive nozzle has a pair of detachably connected nozzle sections, each section having a channel formed such that when the two detachably connected nozzle sections are connected to one another, at least one through passageway is formed. A hollow insert is shaped to fit into the at least one through passageway. The two detachably connected nozzle sections are formed of aluminum while the hollow insert is formed of a metal selected from the group consisting of chrome plate, tungsten carbide and boron carbide. This allows the nozzle to be lightweight for ease of manual operation while also providing adequate wearability against the shot passing through the nozzle and the two nozzle sections allowing for ease of replacing the hollow insert.

The inventive nozzle has a pair of detachably connected nozzle sections, each section having a channel formed such that when the two detachably connected nozzle sections are connected to one another, at least one through passageway is formed. A hollow insert is shaped to fit into the at least one through passageway. The two detachably connected nozzle sections are formed of aluminum while the hollow insert is formed of a metal selected from the group consisting of chrome plate, tungsten carbide and boron carbide. This allows the nozzle to be lightweight for ease of manual operation while also providing adequate wearability against the shot passing through the nozzle and the two nozzle sections allowing for ease of replacing the hollow insert.

Systems for managing abrasive media in cavitated fluid include a set of sensors in communication with cavitated fluid in a processing tank and a processor coupled to the set of sensors. The processor is configured to determine a density of an abrasive media in the cavitated fluid in the processing tank and facilitate maintaining the density of abrasive media in the cavitated fluid in the processing tank at a level that is greater than or equal to a threshold level of abrasive media. The processor is further configured to command the abrasive media addition device to add the recycled abrasive media to the processing tank to increase the density of abrasive media in the cavitated fluid in response to determining that an average density of abrasive media is less than the threshold density of abrasive media.

Systems for managing abrasive media in cavitated fluid include a set of sensors in communication with cavitated fluid in a processing tank and a processor coupled to the set of sensors. The processor is configured to determine a density of an abrasive media in the cavitated fluid in the processing tank and facilitate maintaining the density of abrasive media in the cavitated fluid in the processing tank at a level that is greater than or equal to a threshold level of abrasive media. The processor is further configured to command the abrasive media addition device to add the recycled abrasive media to the processing tank to increase the density of abrasive media in the cavitated fluid in response to determining that an average density of abrasive media is less than the threshold density of abrasive media.

Disclosed embodiments provide automated fiber placement techniques for fabrication of parts made from composite materials. A peening system with multiple pins provides compaction over irregular surfaces, providing superior performance as compared with traditional compaction rollers. The apparatus that carries out the techniques include a tape dispensing system, a heating system, a peening system, a processor and a memory coupled to the processor. The memory contains instructions that when executed by the processor perform the steps of: dispensing a first ply of thermoplastic composite tape over a mandrel; dispensing a second ply of thermoplastic composite tape on the first ply; and peening the second ply onto the first ply, such that the second ply is bonded to the first ply.

Disclosed embodiments provide automated fiber placement techniques for fabrication of parts made from composite materials. A peening system with multiple pins provides compaction over irregular surfaces, providing superior performance as compared with traditional compaction rollers. The apparatus that carries out the techniques include a tape dispensing system, a heating system, a peening system, a processor and a memory coupled to the processor. The memory contains instructions that when executed by the processor perform the steps of: dispensing a first ply of thermoplastic composite tape over a mandrel; dispensing a second ply of thermoplastic composite tape on the first ply; and peening the second ply onto the first ply, such that the second ply is bonded to the first ply.