Abstract
A comparative analysis was made of the surface hardening of steel 45 by high-power CO2 laser beams with a rectangular strip-like cross section and a traditional circular cross section. This was done under various conditions. The treatment with the strip-like beam ensured a higher homogeneity of the hardened layer and made it possible to increase the productivity by a factor of 2–4 compared with the treatment by a beam of the same power but with a circular cross section.