Certified Almen Strips For Repeatable Performance
And Consistent Results.

Since its inception in 1974, Electronics Incorporated (EI) continues to be a pioneer in the metal surface treatment industry by providing Control Solutions for Shot Peening and Blast Cleaning Processes.

EI’s Products

ALMEN STRIPS

ALMEN GAGES

ROTARY FLAP PEENING PRODUCTS

AIRCRAFT PAINT STRIPPING TOOLS

Find out more about our wide range of products to improve your metal surface treatment processes.

Why Choose EI As Your Partner In Aviation?

ALMEN STRIPS

A, N AND C CERTIFIED ALMEN STRIPS

Electronics Inc. (EI) manufactures and maintains the world’s largest inventory of Almen strips for global distribution. EI can provide strips to any specification, from standard MIL to rigid aerospace specifications. Almen “A”, “N” or “C” strips in Grades 3, 2, 1 and 1-S are ready-to-use and are pre-qualified. Our “A” and “N” Almen strips have the lot number printed on both sides and a patented coverage check finish. These features add value to a quality shot peening process.

The Double-Sided Numbering System

  • Ensures that the lot number is legible after peening

  • Provides room for notes; for example, print numbers, procedure numbers, the date and the arc height reading

  • Gives a tracking method for meeting specifications, ISO and Nadcap audit requirements, and first-in, first-out requirements

  • Allows lot-to-lot comparison for process consistency

  • Part of Electronics Inc.’s comprehensive traceability and audit program

  • Denotes genuine EI product

  • Both “A” and “N” strips have the Double-Sided Numbering System

The Coverage Check Finish (U.S. Patent No. 6,568,239)

  • Lapses in coverage are easy to check visually

  • Contributes to a proper rotary-flap peening technique

  • Enhances capabilities of coverage checker tools

  • Both “A” and “N” strips have the Coverage Check Finish

*Grades 3, 2, 1 and 1S are trademarks of Electronics Inc.

Type-Grade Thickness (in/ mm) Flatness/ PreBow (in /mm) Hardness List Price/ Strip Quantity/ Box List Price/ Box
A-3™ 0.0520 | 1.320
0.0500 | 1.270
±0.0015/±0.038 HRc 44-50 $0.65 1000 $650.00
A-2™ 0.0520 | 1.320
0.0500 | 1.270
±0.0015/±0.038 HRc 44-50 $0.81 50 $40.50
A-1™ 0.0520 | 1.320
0.0500 | 1.270
±0.0010/±0.025 HRc 44-50 $1.10 50 $55.00
A-1S™ 0.0515 | 1.308
0.0505 | 1.283
±0.0005/±0.013 HRc 45-48 $1.25 50 $62.50
N-3™ 0.032 | 0.810
0.030 | 0.760
±0.0015/±0.038 HRa 72.5-76.0 $0.75 1000 $750.00
N-2™ 0.032 | 0.810
0.030 | 0.760
±0.0015/±0.038 HRa 72.5-76.0 $0.95 50 $47.50
N-1™ 0.032 | 0.810
0.030 | 0.760
±0.0010/±0.025 HRa 72.5-76.0 $1.20 50 $60.00
N-1S™ 0.0314 | 0.798
0.0304 | 0.772
±0.0005/±0.013 HRa 73.0-74.5 $1.49 50 $74.50
C-3™ 0.0949 | 2.410
0.0929 | 2.360
±0.0015/±0.038 HRc 44-50 $1.55 500 $775.00
C-2™ 0.0949 | 2.410
0.0929 | 2.360
±0.0015/±0.038 HRc 44-50 $1.80 25 $45.00
C-1™ 0.0949 | 2.410
0.0929 | 2.360
±0.0010/±0.025 HRc 44-50 $2.20 25 $55.00
A, N and C strips are 2.996” length x 0.748” width (76.098 mm x 18.987 mm)
A-3, A-2, A-1, A-1S, N-3, N-2, N-1, N-1S, C-3, C-2, C-1 are trademarks owned by Electronics Inc.

By Type

Almen strips are classified into 3 types: ‘A’, ‘N’, and ‘C’. They differ in their thickness but have the same width and length. The type of strip is usually specified by the part designer.

“A” strips are used for medium intensity applications. “A” strips are predominantly used for shot peening with cast shot or cut wire shot.

“N” strips are used for low intensity applications. “N” strips are used usually for glass bead and ceramic bead peening.

“C” strips are used for high intensity applications.

By Grade

Grade 3 – Bulk (A-3™, N-3™, C-3™)
 Grade 3 strips are guaranteed to meet the requirement of MIL-S-13165 (now AMS-S-13165). Type A-3 strip is guaranteed to meet National Stock Number NSN 6635-00-512-1892. Grade 3 strips are economically priced and bulk packaged.

Grade 2 – Standard (A-2™, N-2™, C-2™)
 Meets AMS-S-13165. Excess oil is removed from the Grade 2 Standard strips. The strip surfaces are then visually inspected for score marks, scratches, nicks, burrs, pits and rust. Strips are certified using a sampling inspection plan for hardness, length, width, thickness, and flatness. A dated certification of compliance is issued, signed and archived. We then package “A” and “N” strips in groups of 50 and “C” strips in groups of 25.

Grade 1 – Premium Grade (A-1™, N-1™, C-1™) 
Meets SAE J442. Electronics Incorporated performs all the inspection and packaging operations listed for Grade 2 strips. Strips are sample inspected for flatness (±.001-inch) on each side. A dated certification of compliance is issued, signed and archived. The Premium Grade 1 strips are identified by batch control number which provides traceability.

Grade 1S – Special Grade (A-1S™, N-1S™)
 Meets SAE AMS 2432B. In addition to requirements for Premium Grade 1, the Grade 1S strips are inspected to ±.0005-inch flatness tolerance of AMS 2432B. A dated certification of compliance is issued, signed and archived.

* AMS-S-13165 has been cancelled with instructions to use AMS 2430. For more information see Almen Strips FAQ.
A-3, A-2, A-1, A-1S, N-3, N-2, N-1, N-1S, C-3, C-2, C-1 are trademarks owned by Electronics Inc.

Specifications A-3™ A-2™ A-1™ A-1S™ N-3™ N-2™ N-1™ N-1S™ C-3™ C-2™ C-1™
SAE AMS 2432 B x x
SAE J442 x x x x x
SAE AMS 2430 x x x x x
AMS-S-13165* x x x x x x x x x x x
MIL-S-13165C x x x x x x x x x x x
NSN – National Stock Number
6625-99-512-1892
x x x x x x x x x x x
* AMS-S13165 has been cancelled with instructions to use AMS 2430
A-3, A-2, A-1, A-1S, N-3, N-2, N-1, N-1S, C-3, C-2, C-1 are trademarks owned by Electronics Inc.

Note: Our strips are inspected in compliance with SAE standards that require the use of the #2 Almen gage for pre-bow measurements. Any other equipment, such as laser measurements, does not meet the requirements of SAE J 442 or AMS 2430.

Almen Strips Test Stand

An Electronics Inc. staff member tests Almen strips hardness. EI is responsible for every aspect of the manufacturing process to ensure that our strips are of consistent quality and give repeatable results.

Type-Grade Thickness (in/ mm) Flatness/ PreBow (in /mm) Hardness List Price/ Strip Quantity/ Box List Price/ Box
A-3™ 0.0520 | 1.320
0.0500 | 1.270
±0.0015/±0.038 HRc 44-50 $0.65 1000 $650.00
A-2™ 0.0520 | 1.320
0.0500 | 1.270
±0.0015/±0.038 HRc 44-50 $0.81 50 $40.50
A-1™ 0.0520 | 1.320
0.0500 | 1.270
±0.0010/±0.025 HRc 44-50 $1.10 50 $55.00
A-1S™ 0.0515 | 1.308
0.0505 | 1.283
±0.0005/±0.013 HRc 45-48 $1.25 50 $62.50
N-3™ 0.032 | 0.810
0.030 | 0.760
±0.0015/±0.038 HRa 72.5-76.0 $0.75 1000 $750.00
N-2™ 0.032 | 0.810
0.030 | 0.760
±0.0015/±0.038 HRa 72.5-76.0 $0.95 50 $47.50
N-1™ 0.032 | 0.810
0.030 | 0.760
±0.0010/±0.025 HRa 72.5-76.0 $1.20 50 $60.00
N-1S™ 0.0314 | 0.798
0.0304 | 0.772
±0.0005/±0.013 HRa 73.0-74.5 $1.49 50 $74.50
C-3™ 0.0949 | 2.410
0.0929 | 2.360
±0.0015/±0.038 HRc 44-50 $1.55 500 $775.00
C-2™ 0.0949 | 2.410
0.0929 | 2.360
±0.0015/±0.038 HRc 44-50 $1.80 25 $45.00
C-1™ 0.0949 | 2.410
0.0929 | 2.360
±0.0010/±0.025 HRc 44-50 $2.20 25 $55.00
A, N and C strips are 2.996” length x 0.748” width (76.098 mm x 18.987 mm)
A-3, A-2, A-1, A-1S, N-3, N-2, N-1, N-1S, C-3, C-2, C-1 are trademarks owned by Electronics Inc.

Our Trusted Partners

Discover The Future of Finishing Technology

We are a one-stop service provider for your Surface Finishing Needs

Talking to us is easy. Call us at +65 6742 2209