Production Laser Hardening for Aerospace

The Garrett Engine Division of Allied-Signal Aerospace is one of a few aerospace companies which takes advantage of laser hardening's benefits and brings the process to the production floor within the restrictions of aerospace requirements. Important considerations for implementation are: equipment, safety, training, process control, and quality assurance. Garrett places special emphasis on material selection and part geometry concerns, and their effect on the success of the process. Garrett's primary applications of laser hardening are the surface hardening of AISI 4340 steels to case depths of approximately 0.5 mm, achieving hardness equivalent to HRc 55 to 59.