New Laser Technology Enables Lasershotsm Peening to be a Commercially Affordable Process

Lasershot^sm peening, a surface treatment for metals, is known to induce compressive stresses of over 0.040 in. This provides a damage tolerant component more resistant to various forms of stress related failures than more traditional forms which induce residual compressive stress. This process developed in the 1970's has now moved from a laboratory curiosity to an affordable process for industry. We have developed a unique solid state laser technology employing ND:glass slabs and phase conjugation that enables this process to move into high throughput.