Method for preparing a processed filament by interaction of a filament with at least one processing beam in n processing steps

A method for preparing a processed filament, the method comprising:

• a) providing a filament, which comprises a multitude of segments, which follow one another in a longitudinal direction of the filament,
• wherein each of the segments of the multitude of segments comprises a multitude of sections, which are disposed circumferentially around the filament;
• and
• b) processing sections of the filament in a number of processing steps, thereby obtaining the processed filament;
• wherein in each of n processing steps a number of sections of a number of different segments of the filament is processed;
• wherein n defines the number of processing steps;
• wherein m defines the number of sections and the number of different segments of the filament;
• wherein i denotes a single processing step of the n processing steps, and i is an integer from 1 to n;
• wherein j denotes a single section of the m sections, and j is an integer from 1 to m;
• wherein for each integer i in the range from 1 to n, the ith processing step comprises, for each integer j in the range from 1 to m, processing the jth section of the (i+j−1)th segment;
• wherein n and m are integers that are independent from one another, and are each at least 2;
• wherein each jth section processed in the ith process step is at a different circumferential location of the filament;
• and
• wherein the processing of the sections comprises, in each case, an interaction of the respective section with at least one processing beam;
• wherein the filament comprises:
• a. a core, including the first metal,
• b. a first layer which
• i. is superimposed on the core, and
• ii. comprises a polymer, and
• c. a second layer which
• i. is superimposed on the first layer, and
• ii. comprises a second metal;
• wherein the processing in the processing steps comprises at least partially removing the second layer from the sections of the segment of the multitude of segment;
• wherein between each of two consecutive processing steps the filament is moved in a direction of its length.