What is Laser Cladding?

Laser cladding is a process widely used in industry for coating component parts. The starting material is fed into the process zone via an inert carrier gas coaxial with the laser beam. The laser melts the material and the substrate to form a metallurgical bond. The low degree of mixing between the substrate and the introduced material guarantees that the desired material properties remain intact.

Why laser deposition welding?

Thanks to the wide range of powder materials available, laser cladding offers a high degree of flexibility when coating component parts. Regardless of whether it is a new part requiring initial coating or a used components for reconditioning, this method can be used to reproduce the desired coating properties and target geometry. A major advantage is that the coating can be applied precisely where it is actually needed. The process, also known as laser cladding, adapts to the individual substrate geometry, as the path planning is specific to the component.

Comparison with other processes

Compared to conventional electroplating processes, laser cladding is less energy-intensive and therefore more cost-effective. It is also an environmentally friendly alternative to hard chrome plating, as no toxic chromium (VI) is produced. Unlike thermal spraying, this process is characterized by a very high powder efficiency. This means that more material actually adheres to the surface, reducing resource consumption and saving material costs.

The protective coatings that can be applied, for example to protect against wear and/or corrosion, are of high quality. Among other things, they are characterized by lower porosity, which means that they contain fewer cavities and are therefore more resistant. Furthermore, fewer cracks occur during layer formation and the layer is more homogeneous. In addition, inclusions of foreign matter or impurities are minimized, resulting in higher adhesive strength of the layer.

Quality assurance for laser cladding

We develop clear quality routines along the entire additive process chain, including laser cladding. Our aim is to create a basis for the certification of additive technologies. Based on continuous data collection and linking this data to the component quality achieved, we derive measures for optimizing additive production.

With laser cladding, we are able to apply complex layer systems and work with a wide range of materials, including steels, nickel-based alloys such as Inconel 625 or 718, and cobalt-based alloys such as Stellite. Regardless of whether it is a matrix system with hard metal particles made of tungsten carbide or graded layer systems made of different materials, our precise process control enables us to create customized coatings for every application.

We offer a wide range of services within our core areas of repair, modification, and new part production. This includes the development and testing of new powder materials as well as the adaptation of component geometry and properties to the specific requirements. Component distortion can also be reduced by simulating the process.

Our services range from initial consultation and feasibility studies to all further steps leading up to the implementation of laser cladding in existing production chains.