The use of Machine Hammer Peening technology for smoothening and structuring of surfaces

Abstract

Machine Hammer Peening (MHP) poses a novel technical tool, to modify metal surfaces in a controlled manner. As part of this modification the materials surface topography can be influenced in different ways. On one hand, a surface smoothening effect up to mirror-like surfaces can be realized by the use of this technology and on the other hand it is possible to structure a surface with defined geometries. There are a number of process parameters which can be varied to influence the peening result. This paper seeks to explore the effects of several process parameters and how these parameters have to be optimized for surface smoothening of a C45E steel sample. Beside the surface smoothening effect further modifications of the resulting surface topography, depending on different process parameters, are investigated. A defined micro structuring of the surface can also be achieved by the use of peening tools with functionally shaped tips. In this case the negative form of the desired structure is machined on the tool tip and stamped on the treated surface by the well adjusted structure of the peening tool during the Machine Hammer Peening process. Examples of structured surfaces will be given in this paper.