Up until recently honing was the last step in preparing the cylinder for its tasks. Up and down pacing, rotating brushes with honing stones on its edges roughen the cylinder surface. Pronounced intersections develop, providing for enough oil for good lubrication and low friction when the piston moves downwards. Traditionally the spring preload of the oil scraper rings forms a compromise between sufficient lubrication and not too much oil consumption. The latter tends to be higher, by the way, for cast iron than for coated aluminum cylinders.

As this process is not optimal, alternatives were found. Some disadvantages: the very rough surface with its edges provides for mixing friction with the piston rings and a longer break in period. In addition, an increased number of small, unlinked micro pressure chambers would be better in keeping the engine oil at exactly one spot. A structured micro surface would develop which would indeed hold less lubricant in total, yet much better distributed. There would be nearly only liquid friction, implying suitable advantages for life spans, consumption and emissions. This structure, dependent on the expected load, develops after honing with the help of a laser. Of course, this technology of creating micro pressure chambers is applicable to many sliding bearings, e.g., with crankshafts and/or piston pins.