Heat flow during the laser transformation hardening of cylindrical bodies

• DOI: 10.1007/bf02645556
• Publication Date: 2007-06-11T04:54:29Z
• Authors: Sindo Kou; D. K. Sun
• Keywords: Dimensionless quantity; Hardening (computing); Case hardening

A heat flow model was developed for the laser transformation hardening of cylindrical bodies. Three different cases of surface hardening were considered,i.e., the surface of a solid cylinder, the outer surface of a hollow cylinder, and the inner surface of a hollow cylinder. The thermal responses of the workpiece in these three different cases were compared and discussed. The validity of the model was verified with experimental results obtained on 4140 steel. The effects of operating conditions on heat flow and the surface hardening of the workpiece were discussed. These operating conditions are the travel speed of the workpiece, the power input, the width of the laser beam on the surface of the workpiece, and the cooling of the workpiece. In order to provide general heat flow information, calculated results based on dimensionless variables were presented.