Volume heat treatment method and related system

A method for volume heat treating a part having an external surface delimiting its volume, comprising the following steps:

• a. providing a laser source;
• b. providing the part;
• c. providing support mechanism for supporting the part;
• d. placing said part so that it is held in position by the support mechanism;
• e. irradiating with the laser source at least one segment of the external surface of the part with an annealing laser exposure power;
• f. cooling the part after heating it to an annealing temperature in the previous step to a temperature less than 100° C.;
• g. irradiating with the laser source at least one segment of the external surface of the part with an annealing laser exposure power that is less than the laser exposure power used in the step e.;
• and
• h. cooling the part after heating it to an annealing temperature in the previous step to a temperature less than 100° C.

A method for volume heat treating a part having an external surface delimiting its volume, comprising the following steps:

• a. providing a laser source;
• b. providing the part;
• c. providing support mechanism for supporting the part;
• d. placing said part so that it is held in position by the support mechanism;
• e. irradiating with the laser source at least one segment of the external surface of the part with a laser exposure power and duration to obtain a temperature rise in essentially the entire volume of the part;
• f. stopping the irradiation of the step e. to cool the part;
• and
• g. irradiating with the laser source at least one segment of the external surface of the part with a tempering laser exposure power which is less than the laser exposure power used in the step e. for the quenching.