AMS 2430
Shot Peening
Covers media, equipment, process control, intensity verification, coverage, and quality requirements for shot peening.
What AMS 2430 specifies
AMS 2430 is the principal aerospace shot-peening process specification. Automated peening is the default; manual or batch peening is permitted only when specifically authorized, with additional operator and process controls. The drawing does not select a class but must state media, Almen intensity and strip type, coverage, areas to peen, areas to protect, and any dimensional or surface-finish limits. Intensity is not a coating thickness: it is the arc height derived from an Almen saturation curve under SAE J442 and J443. A strips cover 0.004–0.024 in A, N strips lower intensities, and C strips higher intensities. Coverage is evaluated separately from intensity.
AMS 2430 types and classes
Every designation the document defines, with the thickness it requires and the tests it imposes.
| Designation | Meaning | Requirement / test |
|---|---|---|
N-strip intensity | Low-intensity peening producing arc height below 0.004 in on an N strip. | Saturation curve and Almen intensity using SAE J442/J443; drawing-specified coverage. |
A-strip intensity | Standard intensity range of 0.004–0.024 in A arc height. | Saturation curve and Almen intensity using SAE J442/J443; drawing-specified coverage. |
C-strip intensity | High-intensity peening producing arc height above 0.024 in on a C strip. | Saturation curve and Almen intensity using SAE J442/J443; drawing-specified coverage. |
Manual or batch process | Manual or batch peening only when explicitly authorized in purchasing information. | Process-specific operator qualification, intensity verification, coverage, and annual requalification. |
Tests and the drawing call-out
Tests the document imposes
- Almen saturation curve and intensity per SAE J442/J443
- Coverage determination
- Media size, shape, hardness, and contamination
- Equipment and nozzle-motion control
- Masking and protection of excluded areas
- Visual examination for damage and complete required coverage
How to cite it
Drawing call-out
SHOT PEEN PER AMS 2430 USING <MEDIA>, INTENSITY <RANGE> <N|A|C>, <COVERAGE> COVERAGE, PEEN AREAS SHOWN; MASK EXCLUDED AREASAngle brackets mark the choices the drawing must make; every finish page shows a completed example.
AMS 2430 — frequently asked
What is Almen intensity?
It is the arc height read from a saturation curve at the point where doubling exposure increases arc height by 10%. One peened strip reading alone is not a valid intensity.
What is the difference between intensity and coverage?
Intensity measures shot-stream energy using an Almen strip. Coverage measures how completely the part surface has been impacted; both must be controlled.
Can AMS 2430 shot peening be performed manually?
Only when the purchase information explicitly authorizes manual or batch peening. Automated peening is the default.
AMS 2430 is copyrighted by SAE International. This page explains the document so a drawing can be read; it does not reproduce the standard. Purchase the current edition from the publisher. Official source ↗