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| | | | | | The Excimer laser in operation
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The engineering for motor engines has today reached a very high level. The ratio between engine power and engine weight has been c***tantly improved and the attainable running distances h***e become ever longer. These improvements were achieved, for example, by increasing the component rigidity of the crankshaft, and by reducing friction wear to the camshaft, drag levers and tappets.For decades, the motor industry has produced cylinder blocks from casting materials specifically matched to the interacti*** between bore, piston ring and lubricant in order to achieve satisfactory running performance. The decisive factor for the running properties is the c***titution of the surface of the cylinder bore. | | | | 
| | | | | | The Excimer laser for engine building
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The multi-step honed surface of a modern grey-cast cylinder block displays a surface with honing striation running at a defined angle and with a number of openly visible graphite flakes, which are intended to maintain sufficient lubrication of the bore and piston ring.The honing striation permits the passage of lubricant in the direction of the combustion space, and the graphite flakes ***eared over during the honing process reduce the retention of oil. This is where the Excimer laser is able to help. If the surface of a cylinder bore pretreated in a special honing process is subjected to the laser beams of the Excimer laser in an appropriate manner, this produces a surface structure in which the c***ities of the graphite flakes are uncovered. Engine oil collects in these c***ities. This produces microscopic pressure chambers which optimise the lubrication of the system “piston ring - cylinder”. A system suitable for industrial use has been developed within the framework of the BMB-sp***ored project “Precision treatment of cylinder bores for internal combustion engines with UV phot***” pursued jointly by the companies Audi AG, Ingolstadt, ***S Elotherm GmbH, Remscheid, and LAMDA PHYSIK, Göttingen, together with the institute ATZ EVUS in Vilseck. Ready for series implementation in the motor industry, the system can even be integrated into existing production lines. |
