Laser hardening stainless steel - GIF

[Altair]

Laser hardening stainless steel.




Previously:

Laser Case Hardening
Laser hardening a large gear - GIF
Laser hardening glass bottle molds - GIF
Laser hardening a part - GIF

[Ralphxyz]

Doesn't there need to be quench to make the hardening? Just heating metal usually anneals (softens metal).

[desbromilow]

guess that's a rimfire barrel?

[desbromilow]

Doesn't there need to be quench to make the hardening? Just heating metal usually anneals (softens metal).

I am sure someone more knowledgeable will chime in, but I know stainless work hardens easily, so perhaps the heating (and cooling from the mass of material) is causing the hardening.

[nova_robotics]

Doesn't there need to be quench to make the hardening? Just heating metal usually anneals (softens metal).

The mass of steel below the heated portion is what replaces the quench. There's only 1-2mm of heat affected zone, and cold steel below it. The heat just conducts down into the cold steel and halts the grain growth.