Laser surface hardening has seen an increasing demand in the fields of industrial manufacturing and toolmaking. The hardening process works using a laser beam that heats the top zone of a material for a short time, leading to the homogenization if the carbon distribution (austenization). Due to the precisely applied energy, the component undergoes to a relatively low thermic influence. As a result, distortion is minimal and further processing is not required.
The application possibilities are mainfold.
Laser hardening is used for tools, gears and motor products, in special machinery, vehicle and transport construction, in precision engineering and research institutes.
Laser hardening advantages
Overcoming uncertainty of delivery times and quality of the process.
User friendly
High precision and flexibility due to the path planning performed by the robot.
Environmentally friendly process. (low energy requirements)
Replicability, and automation of the hardening process.
Laser hardening is a thermal treatment process used to improve the strength and durability of the components’ surfaces.
A high-powered laser diode is used in order to apply a significant amount of energy in very specific and precise areas of the surface.
when the laser is working it heats instantly the material above the austenitizing temperature. Subsequently the metal cools down rapidly, forming a martenisitic structure. Compared to other traditional hardening methods, the laser hardening offers some advantages, such as a minor risk of deformations, high precision and accuracy and a wide choice of suitable materials
HOW TO PERFORM LASER HARDENING
The main steps of the process are:
Positioning of the piece under the diode laser. The laser hardening process is suitable to almost any kind of steel and cast iron which contains carbon.
Laser activation. Once the piece is in the correct position, the software activates the laser, which heats a localized surface just below its melting point. Triggered by the heat, the grid of carbon atoms rearrange itself.
Movement of the laser through the component’s surface. The area under the laser beam instantly reaches the target temperature. The sofware is programmed to move the laser across the surface of the component, following a prefixed path. The depth of the hardening is defined by the energy of the laser per unit area. After the has moved across an area, the surface rapidly cools by conduction. This process prevents the carbon atoms from reverting to their previous reticle, furthermore it causes the creation of a crystal structure known as martensite.
The effects of the laser hardening process can extend from 0.1 to 3 mm in the component, depending on the material and the parameters of the process.
Moreover, the laser hardening can be applied on the entire surface or only on certain sections of the material.
We carry out design projects and realization of robotic systems for business usage of laser hardening and direct deposition applications.We also implement third-party projects through the robotic cell installed in our facility.
Our activities
We design and manufacture plants based on laser technologies for applications of surface hardening and cladding, both in stand-alone configuration and as integration of already existing production lines.
Turn-key solutions
We provide stand-alone plants, which allow to process, due to innovative laser technologies, mechanic components with complex geometries and with different scales of weights. Furthermore, the process doesn't require any adjustments, lowering the time expenses and being more suitable ti the company needs.
Integration in production lines
Laser processes can also be deveIoped as integrations of the production cycle. Adding a laser source in working station with controlled axes (CNC), and using adequate laser parameters, finalized components can be created.
Third-party works
Due to the robotized plant in our facility, we carry out third-party works, concerning laser hardening and cladding. In both cases we offer our services for different types of components and large quantity of batches. Looking for a supplier for you treatment needs? Contact us!