We introduce a new laser texturing machine developed to showcase a highly versatile and advanced approach forgenerating hierarchical surface structures. These structures feature a wide range of texture sizes, from sub-micron scaleto approximately 200 μm, enabling the realization of multi-functional surface properties such as improved adhesion,wettability, or biocompatibility, depending on the application. The development of this machine is the result of several keytechnological advancements achieved within the framework of the SYNTECS project, which focuses on scalable, high-precision laser surface engineering for industrial use.

Our system integrates a flexible platform capable of executing a variety of texturing strategies. It currently supports DirectLaser Writing (DLW), Laser-Induced Periodic Surface Structures (LIPSS), and Direct Laser Interference Patterning (DLIP),all performed at industrially relevant speeds of up to 6 cm²/min and an ablation efficiency of 5 μm³/μJ. To ensure qualityand reliability during processing, the machine is equipped with an inline process monitoring system. This includes anacoustic emission sensor to detect material interactions and an optical sensing module based on diffractometry for real-time surface characterization.

In this work, we specifically demonstrate the application of this technology to representative orthopaedic implantgeometries. The process achieves precisely controlled textures with clean, roughened surfaces that closely replicate thefunctional outcomes of abrasive-blasting, offering a cleaner and more controlled alternative.