METHOD AND A DEVICE FOR THERMAL SURFACE-HARDENING OF METAL WORKPIECES

The invention concerns a method for thermal surface-hardening of metal workpieces, in particular of shaft ends, by means of a laser source with which, if necessary, with relative movement of workpiece and laser source, the workpiece surface to be hardened is heated sectionally by laser radiation. In accordance with the invention, the laser radiation is irradiated essentially uniformly in a hardening zone that extends in a principal direction, at least approximately over the entire workpiece surface to be hardened. Furthermore, the invention concerns a device for thermal surface-hardening of metal workpieces, in particular shaft ends, with a laser source for furnishing laser radiation onto the workpiece surface to be hardened and, if necessary, with contrivances for the relative movement of laser source and workpiece; mirror devices provided in accordance with the invention convert the laser radiation given off by the laser source into a flat beam and direct it toward a hardening zone that extends in a principal direction, at least approximately over the entire workpiece surface to be hardened. Achieved in this manner is an essentially homogeneous heating of the workpiece surface that excludes variations in hardness due to excessive or deficient hardening.