Development of Multiple Laser Beam Irradiation Method for Precision Laser Cladding of Metal

Abstract

We developed a new laser metal deposition method for cladding functional metals with multiple laser beams and a powder flow. In this method, the temperature of the flying powders in a powder flow was spatially homogeneous at a substrate surface since they were heated with laser beams while flying. When all the powders and the substrate surface were increased to their melting temperatures, a deposition layer was formed on the substrate since a condition of the powders’ welding with the substrate surface was satisfied in the boundary between the powders and the substrate surface. We achieved precise cladding since the size of the dilution layer was minimized in this method. A cobalt base alloy (Stellite 6) film, which was 400 μm thick with a 5 μm dilution zone, was formed on the SUS 304 base plate.