Surface Topography Prediction on Laser Processed Tool Steel

Abstract

In laser surface treatment the laser beam is used as energy source for surface modification improving aspects such as mechanical properties, tribology or surface texture. Modeling tools have special interest in processes with many variables, like laser surface processing, in order to minimize the tryout testing to find the optimal process parameters. The work presented here focuses on the prediction of the final topography in laser polishing process. By FFT analysis of the surface profile it is possible to get the different frequency components of the initial topography. On the other hand, thermal field simulation was carried out to evaluate the melt duration. Matching this with the spatial frequency damping during process, the reconstruction of the processed topography was obtained.