Challenges in laser surface engineering

(Cladding, alloying, hardening, cleaning, polishing, shock peening, macro-texturing/abrading)

1. Laser cladding: low cost and high surface finishes (benchmarking with electroless plating);
2. Laser cladding of ceramics without cracks;
3. Cladding metals on plastics;
4. Cold cladding;
5. Laser surface engineering with low surface smoothness;
6. Laser polishing with surface roughness Ra < 10 nm;
7. Laser-assisted localised polishing of optics with surface smoothness < 1 nm;
8. Laser surface engineering inside small diameter tubes.