Laser cladding is a process for applying metallic coatings onto parts using a laser. The coating material is deposited in the form of powder or wire and is melted by the laser to adhere to the surface of the underlying part.
This process allows for the deposition of very thin and uniform layers of material, with homogeneous mechanical and chemical properties.
It is used to improve resistance to wear, corrosion, heat and other environmental factors, and to repair damaged parts.
Recharging of metal parts (steels, cast irons, non-ferrous) is done by melting metal powder through the power laser beam, allowing the achievement of a welded joint with the substrate while significantly limiting heat input: a strong metallurgical bond without concern for dimensional deformation.
Wire laser recharging is a welding process that combines a preheated wire with a laser beam and offers many advantages over traditional plated/hardfacing welding processes.
It has the advantages of powder laser recharging, but allows a greater deposition rate (up to 6 kg/h) and high repeatability. It is better suited to larger productions but offers less flexibility than Powder Recharging.
The high-speed laser cladding process (HSLC) is a development based on conventional laser cladding and has been specially designed for the coating of rotationally symmetric components and for the production of layers 25 to 250 µm thick.
With this method, processing speeds can be increased by a factor of 10 or more. Coupled with wire recharging, the amounts of deposited metal can reach up to 30 kg/h.