High-Power Laser Materials Processing

By Eckhard Beyer and Achim Mahrle The high power laser market has been remarkably influenced by the introduction of high-brightness lasers, i.e., laser sources offering a high optical output power in combination with a high beam quality or a low beam parameter product, respectively. These features are primarily exhibited by fiber and disk laser systems, […]

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Portable Laser Cladding for the Navy

By E.W. Reutzel, T.A. Palmer, R.P. Martukanitz Pennsylvania State University’s Applied Research Laboratory has been developing laser-based weld repair techniques for the U.S. Navy for 25 years.  Until recently, the repairs have all been realized in a shop environment, where accessibility is rarely an issue, and where the work space can be carefully controlled in […]

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High Deposition Rate Laser Cladding – Recent Advancements

By Jari Tuominen, Jonne Näkki, Henri Pajukoski, Tuomo Peltola, Petri Vuoristo Laser cladding is currently done with 3-6 kW gas and solid state lasers. Components to be clad or repaired are usually small or some discrete regions in larger components. Net deposition rates are typically 1-2 kg/h. In large area coating applications, conventional coating methods […]

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New Industrial Systems & Concepts for Highest Laser Cladding Efficiency

By: Eckhard Beyer Fraunhofer IWS Over the past decade laser buildup welding transitioned from mostly specialized laboratory efforts into an established industrial technology for high quality and precise surface coating deposition. Compared to traditional plasma powder buildup welding processes, laser cladding generates superior corrosion and wear protective coatings. The laser process can also generate localized […]

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New Stainless Powders for Laser Cladding

By: Ingrid Hauer North American Hoganas New investments into laser cladding as well as wear and corrosion testing equipment have lead to the expanded use of stainless steels. Latest developments show these lower cost alloys are able to yield comparable physical properties to many of the traditional Ni-based and Co-based alloys commonly used today.

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