What is Laser Deposition Technology?
Laser Deposition Technology (LDT) is a process in which metal powder is injected into the focused beam of a high-power laser under tightly controlled atmospheric conditions. The focused laser beam melts the surface of the target material and generates a small molten pool of base material. Powder delivered into this same spot is absorbed into the melt pool, thus generating a deposit that may range from 0.125 to 1 mm thick and 1 to 4 mm wide. The resulting deposits may then be used to build or repair metal parts for a variety of different applications.
Laser deposition technology areas
There are three main areas where laser deposition technology can be used in additive manufacturing (AM) processes.
- Laser Repair Technology
it can be used in repair of worn components, especially in any type of mechanical equipment with moving parts. This process is known as Laser Repair Technology (LRT). Also, this technique can be used in the application of cladding materials, which known as Laser Cladding Technology (LCT).
- Laser Cladding Technology
LCT is a process that repairs surfaces on parts by first machining down the worn surface and building it back up by depositing cladding material in thin layers to restore the worn surface.
- Laser Freeform Manufacturing Technology
Laser Freeform Manufacturing Technology (LFMT) can be used in performing near-net-shape freeform builds. This laser deposition technique starts with a CAD drawing of a part, from this electronic drawing, a tool path file is built. The laser deposition system then builds the part layer by layer. LFMT can build complex shapes, prototyping and manufacturing some parts in far less time than any other technique.
Read more additive manufacturing news or watch more additive manufacturing videos
Follow Additive News on twitter and join the conversation.
