Surface Texturing with Laser Ablation
Much of a product’s appeal to the consumer has to do with its look and feel—literally, the texture of its visible surface.
Share
DMG MORI - Cincinnati
Featured Content
View MoreTakumi USA
Featured Content
View MoreMuch of a product’s appeal to the consumer has to do with its look and feel—literally, the texture of its visible surface. The pattern of tooled leather, the weave of a rich fabric or the grain of weathered wood pleases the eye and gratifies the touch. Reproducing such textures on metal workpieces is one of the primary applications for a line of laser-powered machine tools from GF AgieCharmilles (Lincolnshire, Illinois). The three- and five-axis models in this line use a high-powered laser beam that impinges on the workpiece surface under high speed computer control to remove material by ablation, thus creating virtually any surface texture that can be digitized. Ablation can be described as a method to melt and vaporize a workpiece material with high heat.
In addition to texturing, this process can be used to engrave, mark, label or render a microstructure on a surface in 2 or 3D. According to the company, this process can be applied to aluminum, copper, steel, graphite, carbide, brass, ceramics and other materials. Laser ablation is said to be more flexible, predictable and environmentally benign than acid etching or other conventional surface treatment.
Read Next
Registration Now Open for the Precision Machining Technology Show (PMTS) 2025
The precision machining industry’s premier event returns to Cleveland, OH, April 1-3.
Read MoreBuilding Out a Foundation for Student Machinists
Autodesk and Haas have teamed up to produce an introductory course for students that covers the basics of CAD, CAM and CNC while providing them with a portfolio part.
Read More5 Rules of Thumb for Buying CNC Machine Tools
Use these tips to carefully plan your machine tool purchases and to avoid regretting your decision later.
Read More