| abstract |
A method of laser hardening the surface of a workpiece, such as the surface of a crankshaft journal, in which the surface of the workpiece and the laser source are moved relative to each other so that a laser spot is sequentially projected onto different parts of the surface area. making; During said relative movement, a laser beam 2 is traversed in a two-dimensional scanning pattern across each part of said surface area to form, on said surface area, an effective two-dimensional laser spot 5 having an energy distribution. It includes the step of repeatedly scanning according to. The scanning pattern includes three or more substantially parallel lines in which the laser spot follows a specific order. When the workpiece includes a plurality of journals of different widths, two laser sources 1, 1A may be used to harden the surface area of the journals with the wider width. |