Laser Cladding Solutions Provider

Laser cladding advances laser technology toward the future of machining.

What is Laser cladding ？

Laser cladding, also known as laser metal deposition, is a process for depositing one material onto the surface of another. Laser cladding includes injecting a stream of metallic powder or wire into a melt pool created by a laser beam as it scans across the target surface, creating a coating of the desired material.

Laser cladding technique enables materials to be deposited precisely, selectively, and with little heat input into the underlying substrate.

Advantages Of Laser Cladding

Laser cladding has several benefits over thermal spray, arc welding, and plasma coating.

A complete metallurgical bond, with few if any voids or porosity.
There is little to no thermal distortion.
When compared to typical repair procedures, there is less heat impacted zone (HAZ).
A near-net form coating simplifies post-cladding machining.
Automated laser cladding provides great reproducibility and process stability.
High deposition rates boost processing efficiency.
A practically limitless selection of materials.
There is minimal dilution.

Characteristics of Laser Cladding

Laser cladding is becoming increasingly popular in comparison to traditional methods such as thermal spraying (HVOF, Plasma, Cold Spray, etc.) and arc overlay welding (PTA, TIG, etc.) due to qualities such as:

The high performance alloy is melted with minimum dilution of the lower substrate material, keeping the performance alloys’ properties.
The melt metallurgical connection between the totally dense performance alloy and the substrate is exceptionally strong and defect-free.
The heat input into the substrate is limited, therefore it does not affect key qualities or cause heat-related deformation.

Laser Cladding Materials & Alloys

Laser cladding is a flexible technology that can work with a variety of materials. Laser cladding may be made of any material that can be melted and bonded to a substrate using a high-energy laser. Frequently used are:

Nickel alloys include INCONEL 625, INCONEL 718, C276, and COLMONOY 6, as well as cobalt alloys such STELLITE 1, STELLITE 6, and STELLITE 21.

Laser Cladding Process

Advances in laser material processing have almost eliminated the risk of putting completely fused metallic overlays to even the most intricate and highly machined components. Laser cladding confines the extremely high heat of weld fusion to a tiny local surface region while minimizing heat penetration into the substrate. The process, also known as laser cladding, laser hardfacing, and direct metal deposition (DMD or LMD), employs a high-powered industrial laser with beam guidance controlled by a precision CNC machine tool to create patterns of hardface welding beads anywhere on the surface of metallic components.

The machine tool directs the focussed laser beam over the workpiece while also injecting powdered hardfacing material, allowing the laser to melt and alloy the surface with the deposited metal. The end result is a welded overlay of hardfaced material that is precisely placed where it is needed, with just the laser energy required to form a high-integrity weld bead.

Metallic overlays applied by laser to metallic substrates have qualities comparable to those applied by traditional welding processes, but the substrate/overlay metallurgy effects are more analogous to sprayed and fused coatings. The end result is a genuine metallurgical connection between the overlay and substrate, with minimum dilution and a thin heat-affected zone (HAZ). Laser-applied overlays do not require masking for accurate deposit geometry and may be customized to almost any substrate/overlay combination.