Effect of Micro-Manufacturing Processes on Surface Behavior

Surface texturing has become a valuable technique for reducing friction and wear in contacting parts; laser surface texturing is one such method used to create micro-dimples on the interface surface. This work investigates the surface material property variation caused by laser surface texturing. The hardness and modulus of elasticity of a steel laser surface texture sample were evaluated near the dimples and away from the dimpled zone through nano-indentation. Resulting data shows that no significant difference exists between the material properties from the two positions. An alternate technique for surface texture generation was also explored, involving the use of micro-punches to create surface features in a metal sample. Computational simulations were performed using a second material underneath a thin copper sheet. The second material was present to serve as a support and to allow extensive deformation of the top material. The choice of the support material and ratio of material thicknesses was optimized to minimize pile up. Trials were conducted for three base supporting materials: PTFE, PMMA, and aluminum. Results show that PMMA performed better than the other materials. Positive deflection was minimized when the PMMA thickness was at least fifteen times that of the copper sheet. Physical experiments were completed with a thin copper sheet to verify the results. An array of micro-indentations was also created in a bulk steel sample. In order to assess the effect of dimpling via micro-forming, nano-indentation was performed near and far from the deformed material of the dimples. Similar to the laser textured sample, no significant differences were found between the two locations.