Laser surface finishing apparatus and method

Abstract

A method and apparatus for finishing a surface of a vehicle part. A laser surface finishing means includes a finishing laser and at least one surface topography sensor. A first sensor scans each footprint of the surface and measures the footprint height. Each footprint height is compared to a reference height for that footprint area. If the footprint height is above the reference height, the laser generates a beam to either remove or cause reflow of a predetermined amount of material from the high points. These steps are repeated in a predetermined scanning pattern until each footprint height is not above the reference height for that footprint. In one aspect, a second sensor scans each footprint of the surface after the laser operates or not, and the height measured by the second sensor is used to determine if the steps need to be repeated.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.