Laser powder cladding

The laser beam connects the metal workpiece with the powder that is applied. Various steels, cast iron, copper, aluminum, nickel-based and cobalt-based alloys can be used as the base material. The layers are formed from iron-based alloys (low-alloy steels, tool steels, stainless steels), nickel-based alloys such as Inconel (625, 718, 738), cobalt-based alloys such as stellites, high-temperature alloys, aluminum alloys, titanium alloys and materials containing carbides, to offer additional wear protection. The decisive factor is the availability of the filler material in powder form, with a typical particle size of 40-120 µm, to enable the use of a coaxial powder nozzle. Laserline LDM and LDF diode lasers achieve excellent results when melting metal powder: excellent adhesion, high precision, virtually no porosity and limited cracking with a high degree of hardness and minimal deformation. In most cases, the surface that results from the mixing does not require any further machining. Conventional hard facing processes, such as plasma powder deposition welding, on the other hand, do not achieve a sufficiently long service life for many applications.

Laser Metal Deposition with Wire

In this process, the laser beam melts the wire that is fed in and the material of the component to be coated. Wire with diameters of approx. 0.8 to 1.6 mm is used, which is led to the additive welding process by commercially available wire feeders. Today, it is estimated that 90% of the applications involve being coated with powder and 10% with wire. Areas of application for laser deposition welding with wire include the repair of components and the functionalization of surfaces. The process is particularly economical and clean, and reworking is reduced to a minimum.