Apple Inc.
Laser polishing ceramic material

Abstract:

Systems and methods for polishing a ceramic component using a laser. The ceramic component may include a planar region that is polished using, for example, a mechanical or chemical mechanical polishing operation to produce a polished face. A contoured region that is adjacent to the planar region may be irradiated using a laser to heat the ceramic material within the contoured region. The irradiation may reduce the surface roughness of the contoured region to produce a polished surface. The ceramic component may be heated prior to being irradiated with the laser to reduce thermal gradients within the ceramic component.