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Prepared for power

Blast and peening solutions for the Automotive Industry

Wheelabrator's Extensive Automotive Experience

A great number of our largest customers come from the Automotive sector, and many of our innovations and product developments evolved from designing solutions for this rapid-development industry.

Automotive manufacturers are constantly striving to make their components, stronger, faster and/or lighter with strict cost restraints. Wheelabrator works with the OEMs and their suppliers to support them in this quest to strengthen, clean and polish parts to improve performance.

In addition to developments in the surface finishing and shot peening processes, Wheelabrator invests a great deal of time and effort in the research and development of complex materials handling and automation, in order to develop truly integrated in-line solutions to fit in today’s production lines.

Wheelabrator specialises in custom-designed shot peening and surface preparation solutions to provide a solution to your challenges. With global innovation) and global machine support, we can support your peening and surface preparation needs.

Similarly, we have used our experience gained from the design and manufacture of 1000's of blast machines to create a full range of "standard" machines.

 

Browse the Component categories to find the typical machines used to clean and/or peen automotive parts and structures.

 

 

Axle Parts

  • Cross Member or Axle Carrier
  • Transverse Control Arm
  • Rear Axle Shaft or Differential Shaft
  • Axle Tube
  • Axle and Axle Parts
  • Steering Knuckle (Cast or Forged)
 

Component

Application

Typical Machine Solution 
 cross member axle part Cross Member or
Axle Carrier		 Cleaning and
Shot Peening
Satellite Table Machines (wheelblast), 
Satellite Table Machines (airblast), 
Horizontal/Mesh Belt Machines (wheelblast)
Transverse Control Arm Automotive Axle component  Transverse Control Arm Cleaning
 Batch Tumblast or
Continuous Throughfeed (Tumblast Type) Machine
 Rear Axle Shaft or Differential Shaft Rear Axle Shaft or Differential Shaft
 Cleaning and Shot Peening
 Horizontal/In-line Blast Machine
  Axle Tube
 Cleaning,
Interior/Exterior Peening		 Continuous/Pass Through Hanger Type Blast Machine,
Frame Machine,
Mesh Belt Machine (or Chain Conveyor ~ Horizontal Belt)
  Axle and Axle Parts
 Cleaning,
Weld Cleaning, Peening
 Continuous/Pass Through Hanger Type Blast Machine, 
Frame Machine
  Steering Knuckle
(Cast or Forged)
 Desanding or Descaling
 Batch Tumblast or 
Continuous Throughfeed (Tumblast Type) Machine

Bodywork

  • Side Columns and Pillars
  • Chassis
 

Component

Application

Typical Machine Solution 
side column and pillar  Side Columns and Pillars Cleaning
 Continuous/Pass Through Hanger Type Blast Machine, 
Frame Machine
 chassis Chassis

Cleaning,
Weld Cleaning,
Shot Peening

 Continuous/Pass Through Hanger Type Blast Machine, 
Frame Machine 
 chassis
Chassis - 02
 Cleaning,
Weld Cleaning,
Shot Peening
 Continuous/Pass Through Hanger Type Blast Machine, 
Frame Machine

Brakes

Traditionally brake discs have been desanded and cleaned direct from the foundry's cooling process in continuous through feed machines, a type of tumble blast machine.

But as automotive parts are becoming more sophisticated and valuable, many automotive manufacturers and suppliers are choosing to desand and clean discs in a manner where there is no part-on-part contact, and without the tumbling action. This can be achieved in inclined belt machines, where the brake disc is held in a vertical position and blasted from both sides whilst gently passing through a continous machine.

  • Brake Drum
  • Brake Disc
  • Brake Calliper
 

Component

Application

Typical Machine Solution
Brake Drum Cleaning and Deburring
Inclined Belt Machine (Horizontal Machine),
Continuous Throughfeed (Tumblast Type) Machine (CT or DT depending on component size and weight),
Tumblast Machine (ST, DTC),
Hanger Type Machine 
 Brake discs Brake Disc  Cleaning and Deburring
 Inclined Belt Machine (Horizontal Machine),
Continuous Throughfeed (Tumblast Type) Machine (CT or DT),
Tumblast Machine (ST, DTC)
  Brake Calliper Cleaning and Deburring Continuous Throughfeed (Tumblast Type) Machine (CT or DT),
Tumblast Machine (ST, DTC)

Typical machine solution:
Typical machine solution:

Clutch

  • Spring Collar or Disc Spring
  • Rubbing Plate
  • Clutch Plate
  • Clutch Housing

Component

Application

Typical Machine Solution
Spring Collar or Disc Spring  Spring Collar or Disc Spring  Cleaning and Shot Peening
  
Satellite Table Machine, 
Pass Through Hanger Type Machine
Rubbing plate Rubbing Plate
 Cleaning and Shot Peening
 Satellite Table Machine, 
Pass Through Hanger Type Machine
Clutch plate 
Clutch Plate
 Cleaning and Shot Peening
 Satellite Table Machine, 
Pass Through Hanger Type Machine
Clutch housing
 Clutch Housing
 Cleaning and Shot Peening
 Satellite Table Machine

Engine

Engine castings in iron and light metals such as aluminium need to be cleaned of sand and deburred, internal bores need cleaning, and sometimes a surface finish is required in preparation for subsequent processes.

  • Engine Block, Crankcase, Cylinder Head,
  • Oil Sump, Crankshaft, Camshaft,
  • Exhaust Manifold, Cylinder Liner,
  • Cylinder Head Cover, Steering Housing Cover,
  • Air Compressor, Gearbox Output Shaft,
  • Axle Drive Shaft, Valve Spring, Rocker Arm,
  • Piston, Connecting Rod.

Component

Application

Typical Machine Solution
Engine Block
(Iron and Light Metal - (sand, gravity and pressure die-cast workpieces)		 Desanding, Cleaning, Deburing and Surface Finishing
 Manipulator Type Machines (DS, DV, MAC) and Robot Gripper Machines are ideal for complex parts with many channels
Continuous Hanger Type Machines (Spinner Hanger Machines) can be used for less complex components and lower output requirements
Air Blast Machines can be used for additional internal blasting applications, such as the Advanced Internal Cleaning (AIC) machine.
Crankcase
(Iron and light metal - sand, gravity and pressure die-cast workpieces)		 Desanding, Cleaning, Deburing and Surface Finishing
 Manipulator Type Machines (DS, DV, MAC) and Robot Gripper Machines are ideal for complex parts with many channels
Continuous Hanger Type Machines (Spinner Hanger Machines) can be used for less complex components and lower output requirements
Air Blast Machines can be used for additional internal blasting applications, such as the Advanced Internal Cleaning (AIC) machine.

Cylinderhead Desanding and Cleaning Manipulator Type Machines (DS, DV, MAC) and Robot Gripper Machines are ideal for complex parts with many channels
Air Blast Machines can be used for additional internal blasting applications, such as the Advanced Internal Cleaning (AIC) machine.

Oil Sump Desanding and Cleaning
 Manipulator Type Machines (DS, DV, MAC) and Robot Gripper Machines are ideal for complex parts with many channels
Continuous Hanger Type Machines (Spinner Hanger Machines)

Crankshaft Desanding and Cleaning of cast crankshafts, Deburring of forged crankshafts
 Manipulator Type Machines (DS, DV, MAC)
Continuous Hanger Type Machines (Spinner Hanger Machines) can be used for less complex components and lower output requirements

Camshaft Desanding and Cleaning
 Hanger Type (Spinner Hanger) Machine
Tumblast Machine (ST, DTC) or Continuous Tumblast Machine

Exhaust Manifold Desanding and Cleaning
 Tumblast Machine (ST, DTC) or Continuous Tumblast Machine depending on output required and material (iron castings)

Cylinder Liner
 Desanding and Cleaning
 A custom-designed Horizontal Machine solution is proposed

Cylinder Head Cover Desanding and Cleaning
 Manipulator Type Machines (DS, DV)
Hanger Type (Spinner Hanger) Machine

Steering Housing Cover
 Desanding and Cleaning
 Manipulator Type Machines (DS, DV)
Hanger Type (Spinner Hanger) Machine

Air Compressor
 Desanding and Cleaning
 Manipulator Type Machines (MAC)
Hanger Type (Spinner Hanger) Machine

Gearbox Output Shaft
 Desanding and Cleaning

Satellite Table Machine (wheelblast)
Satellite Table Machine (airblast)

Axle Drive Shaft Desanding and Cleaning
 Satellite Table Machine (wheelblast)
Satellite Table Machine (airblast)
Valve Spring Peening and Descaling
 Spring Peening Machine (wheelblast)
Tumblast Machine (without process security)

Rocker Arm Cleaning Tumblast Machine
Piston Cleaning Hanger Type Machine
Connecting Rod Cleaning Tumblast Machine

Gears

Gear and transmission components can be shot peened to increase the resistance to fatigue. These components can be shot peened by either wheelblast or airblast technologies, and the best solution will depend on your application, quantities and production processes.

  • Drive shaft, Gear shaft, Reverse Lock,
  • Outer Disc Carrier, Switching Piston Valve Plate,
  • Camshaft Drive Chain Plate, Gear Housing,
  • Parallel Feed Body, Sliding Coupling,
  • Epicyclic Gear, Housing, Central Gear

Shot Peening Process Benefits:

  • Increase fatigue strength by at least 60%. In fully controlled conditions, it is possible to more than double the fatigue strength.
  • Increase bending strength.
  • Delay crack and micro-fissure formation in highly stressed components as the compressive stress prevents initiation and propagation.

Superfinishing Process Benefits:

  • Low Ra finish, which can improve life of the part by as much as 30% for metal to metal contact.
  • Noise and vibration reductions.
  • Operating temperature reduction.
  • Wear and pitting reduction.

These benefits will lead to longer lasting and better performing components.

Peening and Superfinishing: Some Test Results

As manufactured  Shot Peened  Shot Peened and Super Finished 
Surface Hardness  750 Hv 800Hv 800Hv
Maximum Compressive Residual Stress   1300 to 1400MPa 1300 to 1400MPa
Bending Fatigue Strength 700MPa 900MPa (+30%) 1350MPa (+100.0%)
Roughness/Surface Finish
 0.29µm 0.32µm 0.06µm

 

Gear and Transmission Components

Component

Application

Typical Machine Solution
 Drive shaft Drive Shaft  Cleaning and Shot Peening
 Satellite Table Machine (airblast)
 Gear shaft Gear Shaft
 Cleaning and Shot Peening  Satellite Table Machine (airblast), Flexible Cell CFX range (airblast)
 reverse lock Reverse Lock
 Cleaning and Shot Peening
 Satellite Table Machine (airblast), Flexible Cell CFX range (airblast)
 Outer Disc Carrier Outer Disk Carrier
 Cleaning and Shot Peening  Satellite Table Machine (airblast), Flexible Cell CFX range (airblast)
  Switching Piston Valve Plate
 Cleaning and Shot Peening  Continuous Hanger Type Machine (wheelblast),
Robot Gripper Type Machine (wheelblast)
 Camshaft Drive Chain Plate Camshaft Drive Chain Plate
 Cleaning Horizontal/In-line Blast Machine (wheelblast)
 Gear housing Gear Housing
 Cleaning  Manipulator Type Machine (wheelblast),
Continuous Hanger Type Machine (wheelblast)
 Gear Housing Gear Housing 02
 Cleaning Manipulator Type Machine (wheelblast),
Continuous Hanger Type Machine (wheelblast)
 parallel feed body Parallel Feed Body
 Cleaning and Shot Peening 

Satellite Table Machine (airblast), Flexible Cell CFX range (airblast), 
Continuous Hanger Type Machine (wheelblast)
 Sliding Coupling Sliding Coupling Cleaning and Shot Peening Satellite Table Machine (airblast), Flexible Cell CFX range (airblast) 

Manipulator Type Machine (wheelblast),
Continuous Hanger Type Machine (wheelblast)
Manipulator Type Machine (wheelblast),
Continuous Hanger Type Machine (wheelblast)
Manipulator Type Machine (wheelblast),
Continuous Hanger Type Machine (wheelblast)
Manipulator Type Machine (wheelblast),
Continuous Hanger Type Machine (wheelblast)
Manipulator Type Machine (wheelblast),
Continuous Hanger Type Machine (wheelblast)
Manipulator Type Machine (wheelblast),
Continuous Hanger Type Machine (wheelblast)
Manipulator Type Machine (wheelblast),
Continuous Hanger Type Machine (wheelblast)

Steering

  • Steering Control Shaft or Gear Rod
  • Steering Wheel

 

Component 

Application

Typical Machine Solution 
 steering knuckle Steering Control Shaft or Gear Rod
 Cleaning and Shot Peening
 Horizontal/In-line Blast Machine (wheelblast)
 steering wheel Steering Wheel
 Cleaning and Deburring
 Satellite Table Machine (airblast)

Suspension

  • Coil Spring
  • Wheel Suspension
 

Component

 Application

 Typical Machine Solution
  Coil Spring Shot Peening  Spring Peening Machine
 Wheel suspension Wheel Suspension Desanding and Cleaning Continuous Throughfeed (Tumblast) Machine,
Batch Tumblast Machine

Track

  • Rear Axle Shaft Wheel
  • Sliding Joint Housing
  • Sliding Joint Hub
  • Transverse Control Arm
  • Ring Hub
  • Gear Wheel
 

Component 

Application 

Typical Machine Solution
  Rear Axle Shaft Wheel Cleaning and Deburring Batch Type Tumblast Machine,
Continuous Throughfeed (Tumblast) Machine
 Sliding Joint Housing Sliding Joint Housing Cleaning and Deburring
 Batch Type Tumblast Machine,
Continuous Throughfeed (Tumblast) Machine
 sliding joint hub Sliding Joint Hub
 Cleaning and Shot Peening
 Horizontal / In-line Blast Machine
 Transverse Control Arm Transverse Control Arm Cleaning Batch Type Tumblast Machine,
Continuous Throughfeed (Tumblast) Machine
 Ring Hub Ring Hub Cleaning
 Batch Type Tumblast Machine,
Continuous Throughfeed (Tumblast) Machine
  Gear Wheel Cleaning and Shot Peening
 Table Machine,
Satellite Table Machine

Cleaning
Cleaning

Wheels

  • Wheel Rim
 

Component

Application

Typical Machine Solution
wheel rim  Wheel Rim Deburring Rotary Table and Continuous Rotary Table Machine
Aluminium wheel rims are blasted to achieve a homogeneous and burr-free surface in preparation for subsequent powder coating. Rotary Table machines are used for special rims and low capacities (cycle around 2-3 minutes) and line integrated Rotary Table machines, working in cycles of around 15 seconds. The continuous rotary table machines are available in single or double strand versions.