Heat-treating methods and systems

A method of heat-treating a workpiece, the method comprising:

• a) increasing a temperature of the workpiece over a first time period to an intermediate temperature, wherein increasing comprises pre-heating the workpiece to said intermediate temperature;
• and
• b) heating a surface of the workpiece to a desired temperature greater than said intermediate temperature, said heating commencing within less time following said first time period than said first time period, wherein heating comprises heating said surface to a desired temperature greater than said intermediate temperature by an amount less than or equal to about one-fifth of a difference between said intermediate and initial temperatures.

A system for heat-treating a workpiece, the system comprising:

• a) a pre-heating device operable to increase a temperature of the workpiece over a first time period, to an intermediate temperature, wherein said pre-heating device is operable to pre-heat said workpiece at a rate of at least 250° C. per second;
• and
• b) a heating device operable to heat a surface of the workpiece to a desired temperature greater than said intermediate temperature, and operable to commence said heating within less time following said first time period than said first time period.

A method of heat-treating a workpiece, the method comprising:

• a) pre-heating the workpiece from an initial temperature to an intermediate temperature;
• and
• b) heating a surface of the workpiece to a desired temperature greater than said intermediate temperature by an amount less than or equal to about one-fifth of a difference between said intermediate and initial temperatures.

A system for heat-treating a workpiece, the system comprising:

• a) a pre-heating device operable to pre-heat the workpiece from an initial temperature to an intermediate temperature;
• and
• b) a heating device operable to heat a surface of the workpiece to a desired temperature greater than said intermediate temperature by an amount less than or equal to about one-fifth of a difference between said intermediate and initial temperatures.

A system for heat-treating a workpiece, the system comprising:

• a) means for pre-heating the workpiece from an initial temperature to an intermediate temperature;
• and
• b) means for heating a surface of the workpiece to a desired temperature greater than said intermediate temperature by an amount less than or equal to about one-fifth of a difference between said intermediate and initial temperatures.

A method of heat-treating a workpiece, the method comprising:

• a) irradiating a first side of the workpiece to pre-heat the workpiece to an intermediate temperature, wherein irradiating said first side comprises irradiating said first side with a radiation intensity sufficient to pre-heat said workpiece at a rate of at least 250° C. per second;
• and
• b) irradiating a second side of the workpiece to heat said second side to a desired temperature greater than said intermediate temperature.

A system for heat-treating a workpiece, the system comprising:

• a) a first irradiance source operable to irradiate a first side of the workpiece to pre-heat the workpiece to an intermediate temperature, wherein said first irradiance source is operable to irradiate said first side with a radiation intensity sufficient to pre-heat said workpiece at a rate of at least 250° C. per second;
• and
• b) a second irradiance source operable to irradiate a second side of the workpiece to heat said second side to a desired temperature greater than said intermediate temperature.