Using laser for surface hardening can take the form of transformation hardening, in which the high energy intensity of the laser is used to quickly heat up a well-defined narrow area, while the bulk of the material remains cool enough to provide a rapid quenching. Titanium and other materials can also be nitrided, a process in which a surface is heated while nitrogen is added, resulting in a titanium nitride of great hardness.

Advantages

Laser hardening provides a number of engineering advantages:

• Can be done on finished components
• Minimal thermal distortion
• High quality
• Possible to harden surfaces with complicated geometries

The above-mentioned capabilities also provide a number of economic advantages:

• High productivity
• Savings on materials
• Increased flexibility
• High precision

Working together with the FORCE Technology, you have 

• a partner with a great deal of experience in the industrial applications of laser hardening;
• assistance in development projects and consultancy in part design and the purchase of advanced equipment;
• access to Scandinavia’s largest and most flexible laser installation, which includes a number of beam delivery and positioning systems using both CO2 and Nd-YAG lasers; use of an installation that can handle a wide variety of different applications in welding thicknesses from foil to heavy goods;
• the opportunity to perform pilot production runs at our workshop.

Applications

Laser hardening can be used in production processes in which a high productivity combined with flexibility is desired without compromising on quality.

A high and uniform quality with a low heat input makes this process suitable for a wide range of applications.

Examples of industrial laser hardening applications:

• Transformation hardening of punching tool cutting edges
• Nitriding of titanium
• Hardening of gear wearing surfaces
• Surface hardening of axles

FORCE Technology services

The FORCE Technology can provide consultancy services all the way from idea to finished product. With the enormous volume of expertise and experience we have at our disposal, we can help optimize your entire production process. Typical jobs for the FORCE Technology are

• design review of new or existing products
• optimization of process parameters
• production process optimization
• testing and documentation of product characteristics
• consultancy in connection with implementation of equipment
• prototypes made and pilot production runs in our own workshops
• courses in laser techniques

Documentation

Documentation of our services can be provided as required by the client. Normally, documentation takes the form of process data monitoring and relevant quality testing. The FORCE Technology can also perform metallurgic analysis as well as destructive and non-destructive testing.

For more information, please contact:

Steen Erik Nielsen 

Telephone (direct): +45 43 26 73 86 

e-mail: sen@force.dk

Copyright © 2002 FORCE Technology