METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR HEAT TREATMENT OF A FERROUS MATERIAL USING AN ENERGY BEAM

摘要

The invention relates to a method and apparatus for heat treatment of an object, such as for hardening of objects with complex shapes such as crankshafts. The method comprises the step of projecting an energy beam (1) such as a laser beam onto a surface of the object (1000), operating a scanner (2) so as to repetitively scan the beam (1) to displace a primary spot (11) in accordance with a first scanning pattern so as to establish an effective spot (12) on the object, and displacing said effective spot (12) in relation to the surface of the object (1000). The beam follows an optical path between the scanner (2) and the surface of the object (11), and a beam deflector device (3, 3A) is placed in the optical path to redirect the beam. The beam deflector device can be placed close to the surface of the object.