Laser Surface Melting of Brake Shoes for Heavy Trucks
Y. Yao, J.D. Hu, H.Y. Wang, Z.X. Guo and Q.Z. Dong
Laser surface melting (LSM) has been introduced for surface hardening of cast iron brake shoes for heavy trucks and has thus replaced conventional induction surface hardening (ISH). The wear resistance of such laser treated brake shoes was increased by a factor of 3 compared to those treated by induction surface hardening (ISH). A special laser processing machine for treating brake shoes has been designed, tested and used in the production line since 2000. More than 500,000 brake shoes have been produced to date.