Laser polishing

The laser polishing is a surface treatment process for metal workpieces , thermoplastics and glasses.

Procedure

By remelting a thin surface layer (<100 µm) with laser radiation , the surface is smoothed due to the interfacial tension . Laser polishing is based on a fundamentally different operating principle (remelting) compared to conventional chip removal processes such as grinding and polishing processes, in which no material is removed. Similar to conventional grinding and polishing, laser polishing also represents a multi-stage process. Macropolishing initially smooths coarse surface structures, for example milling grooves or erosion structures. The surface solidifies from the melt without cracks or pores, so that no sharp-edged structures remain on the surface. With the subsequent micro-polishing, the micro-roughness in particular is smoothed and thus the degree of gloss is increased.

Project

Project partners of Fraunhofer ILT (Fraunhofer Institute for Laser Technology) are:

• Maschinenfabrik Arnold GmbH & Co. KG, 88214 Ravensburg
• EdgeWave GmbH, 52146 Würselen
• S&F Systemtechnik GmbH, 52074 Aachen

Currently three types of gray cast iron, titanium, bronze and cobalt-chromium alloys can be processed with the process.

Industry sectors

Possible industries are:

• Tool and fixture construction
• Precision mechanics
• Medical technology
• Pharmaceutical, food and biotechnology
• Engine construction

See also

• polishing
• Polishing machine

Web links

• Fraunhofer ILT

literature

• Fraunhofer ILT: Polishing with laser radiation
• Pulsed laser beam polishes implant surfaces. (PDF; 336 kB) In: Machine market. 44/2010, pp. 28-30.

Individual evidence

1. ↑ Fraunhofer ILT
2. ^ Arnold machine works
3. ↑ Edge Wave GmbH
4. ↑ S&F Systemtechnik GmbH ( Memento of the original dated February 4, 2011 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. 
5. ↑ Materials  ( page no longer available , search in web archives )  Info: The link was automatically marked as defective. Please check the link according to the instructions and then remove this notice.