• Journal of the Korean Society for Precision Engineering
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• v.12 no.6
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• pp.87-95
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• 1995

In order to predict the case depth and case width in laser transformation hardening, a finite element method was used to analyze the temperature distribution on the material. Laser hardening of the specimens of SM45C and STE11steels was experimented by using the continuous wave CO$_{2}$ laser with the various travel speeds and the defocused Gaussian beam mode. Phosphate coating was adopted on the surface of SM45C to increase the absorption of 10.6 .mu. m laser energy. Experimental data show good agreement with the theoretical predictions. The maximum possible case depth can be predicted for the given laser hardening conditions, such as laser power, and travel speed.