Has shot peening any use in blade manufacture?

[Davis147]

Hieach,
I am not involved in knife manufacture at all, but I am aware of the beneficial properties induced with the shotpeening operation used on many highly stressed parts, eg. coil springs. I have never heard the process mentioned in conjunction with knives, presumably for simple clear reasons. Can anyone enlighten me?
Redrags from Blighty
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[george tichbourne]

I can't see where sufficient stresses are built up during knife manufacture that shot peening would be benificial. It could be used for cosmetic finishing instead of bead blasting.

My only experience with shot peening has been for scale removal prior to polishing heavy steel parts.


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george
www.tichbourneknives.com
sales@tichbourneknives.com

 

[Davis147]

Hi thanks for a reply,
The benefit of shot peening is to introduce locked in compressive stresses (in the surface). The full heat treat/ stress relieve cycle, you guys put a blade through, I have no knowledge of, but at the end of all that,if residual compressive stress is beneficial then SP is an opportunity for improving the properities. An initial thought would suggest that residual compressive stresses is detrimental to a blade, cutting with pressure is compressive?. I think cutting actually stresses the material in tension. If this is true, SP would be beneficial, cost no more than stonewash as a process, but would actually improve fatigue resistance of the blade.
redrags from blighty
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