Influence of Intensity Distribution and Pulse Duration on Laser Micro Polishing

Abstract

Laser micro polishing with pulsed laser radiation is a process to reduce the micro roughness of surfaces. During polishing the properties of the laser radiation have a great influence on the results. In this publication the influence of the type of intensity distribution (near-Gaussian, top-hat), of its geometry (circular, square), and of the pulse duration (≈100-1400ns) on the roughness of tool steel (1.2343) surfaces is investigated. Additionally, the influence of the pulse duration on the maximal polishable spatial wavelength is examined.