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| United States Patent |
6,423,935
|
|
Hackel
, et al.
|
July 23, 2002
|
Identification marking by means of laser peening
Abstract
The invention is a method and apparatus for marking components by inducing
a shock wave on the surface that results in an indented (strained) layer
and a residual compressive stress in the surface layer. One embodiment of
the laser peenmarking system rapidly imprints, with single laser pulses, a
complete identification code or three-dimensional pattern and leaves the
surface in a state of deep residual compressive stress. A state of
compressive stress in parts made of metal or other materials is highly
desirable to make them resistant to fatigue failure and stress corrosion
cracking. This process employs a laser peening system and beam spatial
modulation hardware or imaging technology that can be setup to impress
full three dimensional patterns into metal surfaces at the pulse rate of
the laser, a rate that is at least an order of magnitude faster than
competing marking technologies.
| Inventors:
|
Hackel; Lloyd A. (Livermore, CA);
Dane; C. Brent (Livermore, CA);
Harris; Fritz (Rocklin, CA)
|
| Assignee:
|
The Regents of the University of California (Oakland, CA)
|
| Appl. No.:
|
628565 |
| Filed:
|
July 31, 2000 |
| Current U.S. Class: |
219/121.85; 219/121.6 |
| Intern'l Class: |
B23K 026/00 |
| Field of Search: |
219/121.85,121.6
|
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| |
Primary Examiner: Dunn; Tom
Assistant Examiner: Pittman; Zidia
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Wooldridge; John P., Thompson; Alan H.
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