System and method for making an enhanced cast iron workpiece having increased lubricant retention

A system for making an enhanced cast iron workpiece having increased oil retention, the system comprising:

• a cast iron workpiece comprising cast iron and having a first surface with carbon microstructures thereon;
• a laser tool arranged to emit a laser on the cast iron workpiece to selectively laser burning-off carbon microstructures from the first surface of the cast iron workpiece forming a pattern on the first surface, the pattern having separate pockets formed on the first surface by the laser, each separate pocket being separate from and free of fluid communication with any other pocket relative to the first surface, creating enhanced lubricant retention in each pocket of the first surface;
• a power source configured to power the laser tool;
• and
• a controller configured to control the power to the laser tool to burn-off carbon microstructures from the first surface of the cast iron workpiece.

A method of making an enhanced cast iron workpiece having increased oil retention, the method comprising:

• providing a laser tool arranged to emit a laser to perform carbon burn-off from a cast iron workpiece, the cast iron workpiece comprising cast iron and having a first surface with carbon microstructures thereon;
• cleaning the workpiece to remove contamination thereon;
• selectively laser burning-off carbon microstructures from the first surface of the workpiece to form a pattern on the first surface, the pattern having separate pockets by the laser burn-off of carbon microstructures on the first surface, each separate pocket being separate from and free of fluid communication with any other pocket relative to the first surface, creating enhanced lubricant retention in each pocket on the first surface;
• heating the workpiece to between about 200° C. and about 400° C. to temper the first surface when the hardness of the cast iron workpiece is greater than about 600 Hv after the step of selectively laser burning-off carbon microstructure;
• and
• cooling the workpiece to ambient temperature, defining the enhanced cast iron workpiece having increased lubricant retention.