Efficient production of design textures on large-format 3D mold tools

Journal of Laser Applications, vol. 32

Abstract

Laser surface structuring is becoming increasingly important in the industry for tool and mold making. While structured surfaces contribute to minimizing friction in combustion engines or to increasing efficiency of light-emitting diode-based lighting systems, surface texturing is evolving a quality feature of products with regard to optical and haptic properties. Currently used manufacturing processes for tool texturing like photochemical etching are limited in precision and in flexibility. To establish a digital process chain and to increase the design flexibility, laser ablation with (ultra) short pulse laser radiation is becoming an increasingly important technology. In the research project “eVerest,” all necessary parts of a laser texture processing are integrated into the machine and operating concept, e.g., the virtual design of the product including unrolling and visualization of the textures. Finally, new process strategies and advanced machine and system technologies are developed.

Authors 8

1. Andreas Brenner Aachen Fraunhofer Institute for Laser Technology 1

   Fraunhofer Institute for Laser Technology

   Affiliation as printed

   Fraunhofer-Institute for Laser Technology 1 , Steinbachstraße 15, Aachen 52074, Germany

   8Volkswagen AG, Gifhorner Str. 180, Braunschweig 38112, Germany

2. Markus Zecherle
   Affiliation as printed

   Scanlab GmbH 2 , Siemensstraße 2a, Puchheim 82178, Germany

   8Volkswagen AG, Gifhorner Str. 180, Braunschweig 38112, Germany

3. Sven Verpoort

   FH Münster University of Applied Sciences

   Affiliation as printed

   FH Münster 3 , Stegerwaldstraße 39, Steinfurt 48565, Germany

   8Volkswagen AG, Gifhorner Str. 180, Braunschweig 38112, Germany

4. Kersten Schuster Aachen Visual Computing Institute

   RWTH Aachen University

   Affiliation as printed

   Visual Computing Institute, RWTH Aachen 4 , Ahornstraße 55, Aachen 52074, Germany

   8Volkswagen AG, Gifhorner Str. 180, Braunschweig 38112, Germany

5. Claus Schnitzler
   Affiliation as printed

   Amphos GmbH 5 , Kaiserstraße 100, Herzogenrath 52134, Germany

   8Volkswagen AG, Gifhorner Str. 180, Braunschweig 38112, Germany

6. Markus Kogel‐Hollacher

   Precitec (Germany)

   Affiliation as printed

   Precitec Optronik GmbH 6 , Schleussnerstraße 54, Neu-Isenburg 63263, Germany

   8Volkswagen AG, Gifhorner Str. 180, Braunschweig 38112, Germany

7. Martin Reisacher
   Affiliation as printed

   Sauer GmbH 7 , DECKEL MAHO-Str. 1, Pfronten 87459, Germany

   8Volkswagen AG, Gifhorner Str. 180, Braunschweig 38112, Germany

8. Benedikt Nohn

   Volkswagen Group (Germany)

   Affiliation as printed

   Volkswagen AG 8 , Gifhorner Str. 180, Braunschweig 38112, Germany

   7Sauer GmbH, DECKEL MAHO-Str. 1, Pfronten 87459, Germany