Abstract: A method and apparatus for heat treatment of an object, such as for hardening of objects with complex shapes such as crankshafts, includes the steps of projecting an energy beam such as a laser beam onto a surface of the object, operating a scanner so as to repetitively scan the beam to displace a primary spot in accordance with a first scanning pattern so as to establish an effective spot on the object, and displacing the effective spot in relation to the surface of the object. The beam follows an optical path between the scanner and the surface of the object. A beam deflector device is placed in the optical path to redirect the beam. The beam deflector device can be placed close to the surface of the object.

Abstract: A method for heat treatment of an object of sheet metal, including heating at least one selected portion of the object using an energy beam, where the beam is projected onto a surface of the object so as to produce a primary spot on the object, the beam being repetitively scanned in two dimensions in accordance with a first scanning pattern so as to establish an effective spot on the object, the effective spot having a two-dimensional energy distribution, where the effective spot is displaced in relation to the surface of the object to progressively heat said at least one selected portion of the object.