Laser Texturing with Conventional Fiber Laser

Laser surface texturing process is based on selective material melting and vaporizing to generate a specific surface pattern. Such modification has many different applications, such as the generation of dimples to make them oil reservoirs for generating a micro-film of lubricant to avoid friction between metal surfaces, or the generation of a surface pattern that modifies the contact angle leading to a hydrophobic surface. Another application is the reduction of the friction coefficient, or even the creation of geometric patterns on the surface of molds.The main limitation of the process is derived from the high cost. The low productivity of the process, and the high cost of ultra- short pulse laser source determine the applicability of the technology in many cases. However, there are applications with higher tolerances where conventional laser sources can be used to get the texturing. Thus, this work was focused on the characterization and determination of optimal parameters for surface texturing using a conventional laser source working in pulsed mode.