Patent ID: 6841755

Claim:
An apparatus for monitoring and controlling the thickness and uniformity of the energy absorbing overlay and the transparent overlay, in a laser peening system comprising: a material applicator for applying an energy absorbing overlay onto the a workpiece; a material applicator for applying a transparent overlay over said coated portion; a measurement device to measure the thickness of said energy absorbing overlay and said transparent overlay; a measurement device to measure the uniformity of said energy absorbing overlay and said transparent overlay; a tamping device to alter said thickness and said uniformity of said energy absorbing overlay and said transparent overlay; a laser operatively associated with said transparent overlay applicator to provide a laser beam through the transparent overlay to create a shock wave on the workpiece; and a control unit operatively associated with each of said applicator, each said measurement device, said damping device, and said laser, to control the operation and timing of each said applicator, said measurement device, said tamping device and said laser.