Laser cladding in practice of valuable products; the experience of a laser cladding job shop

Abstract

NedClad Technology BV is a small highly specialized laser clad firm. As a spin-off of Twente University (NL) NedClad applies corrosion, wear and heat resisting coatings using a 2 kW Nd:YAG-laser and a 9 axis robot based manipulation system. The laser clad layers are applied on both new and on worn and damaged products, resulting in better products than the originals. The main field of interests and customers are found in the process industry, combustion engine parts, power generating equipment and gas and oil related industries.The laser cladding is executed with lateral powder injection, enabling to clad difficult attainable surfaces. Additionally hereto an internal bore laser head, incl. the optics, has been developed.For many parties laser cladding is an unknown process. Continued research efforts are put in testing new combinations of substrate and clad materials, in qualification by corrosion and wear testing, metallography, optimising properties of clad layer and heat affected zone of the work piece.Recently the Dutch Water Authorities (Rijkswaterstaat) qualified Ni-base alloy clad layers for components highly affected by seawater with a guaranteed lifetime of 25 years to protect the Netherlands against seaflooding.Some applications and results of research activities will be describedNedClad Technology BV is a small highly specialized laser clad firm. As a spin-off of Twente University (NL) NedClad applies corrosion, wear and heat resisting coatings using a 2 kW Nd:YAG-laser and a 9 axis robot based manipulation system. The laser clad layers are applied on both new and on worn and damaged products, resulting in better products than the originals. The main field of interests and customers are found in the process industry, combustion engine parts, power generating equipment and gas and oil related industries.The laser cladding is executed with lateral powder injection, enabling to clad difficult attainable surfaces. Additionally hereto an internal bore laser head, incl. the optics, has been developed.For many parties laser cladding is an unknown process. Continued research efforts are put in testing new combinations of substrate and clad materials, in qualification by corrosion and wear testing, metallography, optimising properties of clad layer and heat affected zone of the work piece...