Verfahren zum Glätten eines Bauteiloberflächenbereichs

The invention relates to a method for smoothing a surface region of a component (11; 21), which at least within the surface region consists of an electrically conductive material, wherein the surface region of the component (11; 21) is coated inside a vacuum chamber, by means of at least one focused electron beam (13; 23) with a first surface energy, which brings about melting of the component material within the surface region, wherein a), before melting, the surface region is passed over at least twice by the electron beam (13; 23), each time with a different focal length (27a; 27b; 27c) of the electron beam (13; 23), wherein b) a second surface energy is set for the electron beam (13, 23), such that no melting of the component material is brought about in the surface region, wherein c) data which characterize the electric current caused by the backscattered electrodes impinging on the sensors (14; 24) are recorded by means of a number of sensors (14; 24) arranged inside the vacuum chamber, wherein d) within an evaluation device (15; 25), an actual value for the roughness within the surface region is derived from the data recorded by the sensors (14; 24), the actual value of the roughness is compared with a setpoint value of the roughness and, if the actual value of the roughness has not reached the setpoint value of the roughness, a value for the first surface energy is determined in dependence on the result of the comparison, after which e) the surface region is passed over by the electron beam (13; 23) with the first surface energy, after which the procedure is continued with method step a).