Conformable tooling for localized shot peening

Abstract

A shot peening operation is performed on a localized area. A conformable material contains the shot peening elements. The conformable material can conform to the multiple complex shapes of the component to be shot peened.

1 . A method of applying a local shot peening operation comprising the steps of:
 determining a localized area to be shot peened;   placing a conformable material on the localized area, and delivering shot peening elements at the localized area, and within the conformable material, and capturing and containing the shot peening elements within the conformable material; and.   wherein the spot peening elements are delivered at the component through a hand held device, with said hand held device fixed to said conformable material.   
   
   
       2 - 4 . (canceled) 
   
   
       5 . The method as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein said conformable material is formed of an appropriate rubber, plastic, wax, polymer, plaster, alginate, or silicone material. 
   
   
       6 . A shot peening tool comprising:
 a device for delivering shot peening elements at a surface to be shot peened; and   a conformable material to conform to a localized area of a component to be shot peened, with said devices for delivering shot peening elements within said conformable material, and the tool capturing and maintaining the shot peening elements within the comformable material; and   wherein the device is a hand held device fixed to said conformable material.   
   
   
       7 - 9 . (canceled) 
   
   
       10 . The tool as set forth in  claim 6 , wherein said conformable material is formed of an appropriate rubber, plastic, wax, polymer, plaster, alginate, or silicone material.