Method and system for laser hardening of a surface of a workpiece

An apparatus for hardening a surface area of a workpiece, the surface area comprising at least one less heat sensitive subarea and at least one more heat sensitive subarea, the apparatus comprising a laser source arranged to project an effective laser spot onto the surface area and means for generating relative movement between said surface area and the effective laser spot so that said effective laser spot is moved along said surface area so as to subsequently and progressively heat different portions of said surface area to a temperature suitable for hardening, whereby said effective laser spot is arranged to feature a two-dimensional energy distribution, the apparatus further comprising a control system for controlling operation of the apparatus, wherein said control system is arranged to modify said two-dimensional energy distribution during the relative movement so that it is different in said more heat sensitive subarea than in said less heat sensitive subarea,

• wherein said laser source comprises scanning means arranged for two-dimensional scanning of a laser beam of said laser source, wherein the control system is arranged for scanning the laser beam in two dimensions so as to produce said effective laser spot following a scanning pattern, and wherein said scanning pattern is repeated with a repetition rate of at least 10 Hz.