Laser Softening & Annealing
Laser softening is a localized heat treatment process that reduces material hardness and relieves internal stress by controlled laser heating.
It improves ductility, toughness, and machinability without affecting the entire component.
- Local hardness reduction
- Stress relief after welding or cladding
- Improved machinability for secondary processing
What Is Laser Softening / Annealing?
Laser softening, also referred to as laser annealing or laser tempering, is a thermal process in which a laser heats the material to a controlled temperature below the hardening or melting point.
The process modifies the microstructure, reduces hardness, and increases toughness while maintaining dimensional stability.
Key characteristics:
No melting, no coating
Localized treatment only
Hardened surface + tough core
Why Laser Softening Instead of Conventional Heat Treatment?
- Localized Treatment — Only the target area is heated, leaving surrounding material unaffected.
- Minimal Distortion — Low overall heat input reduces warping and dimensional changes.
- Process Flexibility — Suitable for selective softening on complex or assembled components.
How Laser Softening Works
A laser beam heats the material surface to a controlled temperature range, allowing microstructural transformation and stress relaxation.
Heat dissipates naturally into the surrounding material, resulting in controlled cooling without quenching.
Key Characteristics
No melting, no material removal
Controlled temperature and heating depth
Repeatable and programmable process
Why Diode Lasers for Softening & Annealing
Uniform Energy Distribution
Top-hat beam profiles enable controlled heating without overheating or hotspots.
Precise Thermal Control
Adjustable beam size and power allow accurate temperature management.
Non-Contact Process
No mechanical load, ideal for precision and thin-wall components.
When to Choose Laser Softening
- When local hardness reduction is required
- When stress relief is needed without reheating the entire part
- When dimensional accuracy must be preserved
- When selective machinability improvement is required
Here you will find a solution for laser softening
High Power Diode Laser →
6KW Compact diode laser optimizes for laser cladding.
Why Choose Vivlaser
What Sets Us Apart?
- Over 20 years of diode laser expertise
- Certified by ISO9001, CE, Rohs certification
- 10,000+ m² modern factory, 100,000+ units annual capacity
- Trusted by top laser industry leaders and global device brands
- Fast delivery and responsive global support
Choose Vivlaser—where reliability, scale, and proven performance power your business.
Start Your Project with Vivlaser
Need Controlled Hardness Reduction?
Share your material, hardness range, and target processing area.
Our engineers will evaluate feasibility and recommend a laser-based softening solution.
Looking to increase surface hardness instead?
High Power Diode Laser →
6KW Compact diode laser optimizes for laser softening.
