Polishing titanium- and nickel-based alloys using cw-laser radiation

Polishing of metals by remelting with laser radiation is a method for automated polishing of 3D surfaces. A thin surface layer is molten and the surface tension leads to a material flow from the peaks to the valleys. The achievable polishing quality depends on the material and its quality. Results for polishing of titanium-and nickel-based alloys with cw laser radiation are represented in this paper. Starting from a roughness of Ra=1 mu m a Ra value of 0.16 mu m is achieved in 7 s/cm(2) for Ti6Al4V and a Ra value of 0.11 mu m is achieved in 10 s/cm(2) for Inconel718. (C) 2013 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V. Selection and/or peer-review under responsibility of the German Scientific Laser Society (WLT e.V.)