Product Code: JLA_8_2_89

Authors:
David E. Fly
J. T. Black
Ben Singleton

An industrial laser cutting machine tool was used to harden 1117 and 1144 steel to examine effects on fatigue life. Transformation hardening leaves residual compressive stresses at the surface, which greatly enhance fatigue life in addition to increasing the hardness. The laser, which creates localized heating, allows faster cooling rates than conventional heat treatment methods. As a result, the application of the laser facilitates the hardening of low carbon steel which is not hardenable by conventional methods.