The laser hardening is a process in which the energy input takes place by means of radiation directly to the component surface. The laser beam heats short term and localized the top portion of the workpiece up to the austenitizing temperature of the material used. This leads to a homogenization of the carbon distribution and thus to a spread of a front of austenitization in the material.

Depending on the material used, the austenitizing temperature is about 900 ° C to 1400 ° C and time to temperature at about 3 s to 10 s.

Due to the small amount of heat input and rapid heat dissipation over the component a self-quenching is achieved, which causes a "freezing" of the hardness structure. The use of additional media for quenching, such as water, oil or compressed air is not required.

The laser hardening is suitable for all hardenable materials, which can be harded by flame hardening and induction hardening.

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Service:

• achieved hardness
• achieved hardening track width

Advantages of Laser Hardening

• suitable for all hardenable steels with sufficient carbon
• hardening track width 1-50 mm in dependence of optics and maximum laser output power
• Case depth up to 1.5 mm, depending on material
• low distortion through selective, high energy input at extremely short residence time, results in a reduction of rework
• hardening temperature on the workpiece surface is adjustable to + / - 10 ° K
• stress-related selective hardening of single workpiece surfaces. The result is a hard surface with tough core and unaffected areas in the immediate vicinity
• additional media for quenching as water or gas are not required

technical limitations

• no overlapping tracks possible, the overlapping subsequent  hardening track causes a tempering of the previous hardening track, minimal required distance of hardening zones is about 1.0 - 1.5 mm
• larger areas are covered by parallel and or meander tracks
• Working distance laser head - workpiece surface is about 100-350 mm, depending on optics
• a clear working space for laser head and beam caustic for direct radiation on the to be hardened component surface must be taken into account
• necessary protection device due to laser radiation scattering