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Laser Cladding for Unlimited Part Life

If the part is worn but too expensive to scrap, laser cladding is the solution

Cladding is a well-established process. It is used to improve the surface and properties of a part that has suffered wear, corrosion or heat damage or completely resurface a component that has become worn through use e.g. drive shafts and cylinder linings.

Laser cladding image

There are several techniques for performing cladding including welding and metal spraying. The most efficient and cost-effective is laser cladding which deposits material onto the surface of the work piece at high speed. Typically, the laser is used to introduce powder onto a substrate by melting it. This powder produced a 100% dense metallurgical bond deposit (weld). There is minimal distortion of the base material providing enhanced corrosion, abrasion and wear resistance. In effect, if this process is repeated as and when necessary, a part or component can have its life increased indefinitely!

Laser v Traditional Weld

Laser cladding has several major advantages over traditional techniques such as weld cladding or hard facing. These include:

  • Denser coating with little or no porosity, finer surface finishes, more consistent layer thickness and more precise clad placement.
  • In specific applications, parts can be restored to their original dimensions without secondary operations.
  • The laser cladding process is faster than traditional methods.

Various high powered lasers such as CO2, Nd:YAG and fiber can be utilised for cladding. However, the new generation of direct diode lasers have emerged as the most cost-effective solution with 85% to 95% of the powder material deposited on the surface of the work piece (the less wasted material, the lower the costs).

Coherent’s Highlight-D Series direct diode lasers use a unique rectangular or square beam profile to deposit the cladding alloy. With its large area profile, deposit rates of ~30lb/hr are possible and the lowest dilution and the smoothest cladding surfaces compared to all other processes are achieved. When weld metallurgy, consumables cost, distortion and thickness control are the main criteria, the Highlight-D series of lasers are the optimum cladding solution.

TLM Laser can advise you on which Highlight-D laser system can best meet your needs and answer any questions you may have regarding the laser cladding process. Please contact sales@tlm-laser.com