Process for texturing the surfaces of workpieces with a laser beam

A process for texturing a surface of a workpiece (1) with a laser beam moved by a control unit along a tracking line (7) determined by tracking points (X.sub.1, X.sub.n) on the surface of the workpiece (1), the process comprising the steps of:

• (a) determining positions and dimensions of a plurality of recessed areas (10) on the surface of the workpiece (1) for preventing processing within each recessed area;
• (b) determining a starting point (A) on the tracking line (7);
• (c) determining a length and direction of a desired line (V.sub.1, V.sub.n) that originates from the starting point (A);
• (d) determining a surface area (11, 14) at the end point of the desired line (V.sub.1, V.sub.n);
• (e) determining a tracking point (X.sub.1, X.sub.n) on the surface area (11, 14) that does not lie within a recessed area (10) by arbitrary selection;
• and
• (f) repeating steps (c) through (f), wherein the starting point (A) is reset to the tracking point (X.sub.1, X.sub.n).

A process for texturing the surface of a workpiece (1) with a laser beam that is moved by a control unit along a tracking line (7) determined by tracking points (15) on the surface of the workpiece (1), the process including the steps of:

• (a) establishing an imaginary matrix (m.times.n) formed over the surface of the workpiece (1), the matrix including set elements and non-set elements;
• (b) establishing a degree of coverage of the matrix (m.times.n) ,
• (c) establishing a number of set elements in the matrix (m.times.n) as tracking points (15), the number corresponding to the degree of coverage and a random value;
• (d) searching for a tracking point (15),
• (e) detecting a next tracking point adjacent to the tracking point (15);
• (f) repeating step (e) until a next tracking point cannot be found;
• and
• (g) repeating steps (d) through (f) until all tracking points (15) in the matrix (m.times.n) have been followed by the laser.