A method for improvement of adhesion and distribution along the surface of coatings using a femtosecond laser is described. The process starts from chemical preparation or cleaning of the target material, surface predetermination, laser irradiation of the surface until a certain surface geometry is obtained, which gives the surface improved wetting properties and chemical surface activation which results in improved adhesion of the coatings on the target material surface. The surface geometries and dimensions to be obtained during irradiation are selected according to the properties of the coating and target material, including the laser parameters and/or the environment to obtain the desired surface geometry, considering possible geometry errors without compromising essential adhesion.

A method for laser-marking an iron-based sintered body includes a first step of forming with a first laser beam a plurality of dotted recesses with a predetermined depth in an identification mark area of a surface of an iron-based sintered body, and a second step of flattening with a second laser beam the surface within the identification mark area other than the dotted recesses. The first laser beam has an irradiation energy per unit area greater than an irradiation energy per unit area of the second laser beam.

A marking system for decorating one or more workpieces includes a plurality of marking stations that can mark product images on blank workpieces to produce product workpieces, at least some of which have different sizes, shapes, materials, or a combination thereof, a control system that can select one of the plurality of marking stations and send product image data to the selected one of the plurality of marking stations, and a robotic manipulator that can transport a blank workpiece to the selected marking station under the control of the robotic manipulator. The selected marking station can mark the product image the blank workpiece based on the product image data which produces a product workpiece. The robotic manipulator can remove the product workpiece from the selected one of the plurality of marking stations.

An apparatus for producing an optically variable film includes a laser configured to emit a beam, a telescoping lens section having a first lens and a second lens spaced apart by a first distance and an interferometer configured to direct the beam toward a workpiece. The laser may be operated at a predetermined power level and the first and second lenses are sized and spaced relative to one another to direct the beam onto the workpiece at about 200-230 dots per inch. The workpiece may include a polyethylene terephthalate (PET) layer configured to be ablated by the beam, forming a microstructure in the surface of the layer. The microstructure may be randomized and used to present non-chroma visual effects.

An article includes a ceramic material and features a machined surface that is characteristic of cold ablation laser machining, and the machined surface exhibits no visible oxidation. A laser machining apparatus and technique is based on cold-ablation, but is modified or augmented with an inert assist gas, to minimize deleterious surface modifications and mitigate the oxide formation associated with laser machining.

A housing for an electronic device is disclosed. A surface of the housing includes a laser-formed marking. The marking comprises a plurality of laser-formed pixels and may include a grayscale image. Electronic devices including the laser-marked housings and techniques for laser-marking the housings are also disclosed.

A laser tool, in particular for the structuring of cylinder running surfaces, that offers the possibility of guiding the laser beam of the laser tool with high process reliability, it is provided that the laser tool has a laser source for producing laser beams that are passed through a lens tube located in a hollow shaft, wherein a lens through which the laser beams are passed is attached to the lens tube, wherein the hollow shaft is designed to be rotatable as a hollow-shaft motor, wherein a spindle, to which is attached an optical device for deflecting the laser beam onto a workpiece surface, is attached to the hollow shaft, wherein the hollow shaft is rotatable independently of the lens.

A method for manufacturing a horology component comprising a surface that is to be treated, this surface being prepared beforehand through a substep of polishing and/or through a substep of adding a malleable upper layer (2), wherein said method comprise: a first surface structuring (E10) of said surface that is to be treated of the horology component, followed by a second surface structuring (E20) of said surface that is to be treated, structured by the previous first surface structuring step (E10).

An asset verification system, comprising: a reader comprising a holder configured to hold an asset in a tag-reading position, a light source consisting of at least one light to provide illumination to the asset, magnifying optics configured with an effective magnification for both sufficiently separating dots in a tag in the body of the asset and viewing the tag at an effective magnification greater than 10×, reflective optics for conveying an image of the tag through the reader, and, position controls for adjusting the positioning of the asset with respect to the magnifying optics; a multi-function hardware device comprising an optical sensor for reading the tag of the asset projected to the optical sensor by the reader; and, a database having information related to the asset including an association of the tag to the asset stored thereon.

A method of selectively removing at least part of a first phase from a surface of a nanocomposite includes at least a first phase and a second phase, each phase having a respective threshold fluence under a given number of applied laser pulses for removal of the phase by laser ablation. The threshold fluence of the first phase is less than the threshold fluence of the second phase. The method includes irradiating the surface of the nanocomposite with a laser beam having a laser beam diameter, a laser pulse duration, and a laser pulse energy during the irradiation. The laser fluence during the irradiation is less than the threshold fluence of the second phase and greater than the threshold fluence of the first phase. The laser beam diameter is greater than an average grain size of the first phase at the surface of the nanocomposite.