Precision deep peening with mechanical indicator

摘要

An apparatus (10) produces compressive stress in a component surface (14). Positioning of a contact area of the component surface is controlled (30,32) to situate a contact area of the component surface relative to an indenter element (16,18). The indenter element is fixtured (12) to cause an indention at the contact area. The force of the indentation is measured as the indenter element contracts the contact area, and controlled responsive to the amount of force measured and the desired compression. The system allows deep compressive stresses to be generated without the surface damage associated with conventional peening.