Method for machining a workpiece surface by means of a laser

A method for machining at least one workpiece surface in order to apply a texture pattern to at least one section of the workpiece surface by way of a laser comprising:

• providing image data that specify an image of the texture pattern to be applied to the at least one section of the workpiece surface, and model data that specify a three-dimensional geometry of a surface form corresponding to the at least one section of the workpiece surface;
• generating track segment data on the basis of the image data and of the model data, wherein the track segment data each specify a multiplicity of consecutive laser track segments along the respective track line for a multiplicity of track lines running on the section of the workpiece surface, depending on the texture pattern;
• generating control data on the basis of the generated track segment data, wherein the control data specify one or more segment sequences for each track line, and each segment sequence has track segments along which the laser is guided in order to apply the texture pattern to the at least one section of the workpiece surface, and wherein the track segments of a segment sequence comprise one or more laser track segments over which the laser travels in the switched-on state at a substantially constant machining setpoint speed;
• and
• outputting the generated control data to a laser device that controls the laser on the basis of the control data in order to apply the texture pattern to the at least one section of the workpiece surface;
• wherein the track segment data are created on the basis of the image data and model data, provided that, for each track line, the number of adjacent laser track segments that are arranged so as to be substantially collinear relative to one another is increased and
• wherein the control data are generated such that each segment sequence, having at least two laser track segments, between two adjacent laser track segments that are aligned substantially collinear to one another, each has a traveled-over segment over which the laser travels in the switched-off state at the substantially constant machining setpoint speed.