Abstract
Laser cladding is a technique for modification of metal surface. In this laser cladding experiment a metal powder feeding system was developed for more efficient laser cladding. This system can reduce processing time and be used simpler than the conventional method. The feeding of metal powder has given a rise to the process for sequential buildup of bulk rapidly solidified materials in the form of fine powder stream to the laser cladding process. The parameters of laser cladding have been investigated using this experimental equipment. Bronze on aluminum alloy and copper on aluminum alloy were experimented by using defocused beam, powder feeding system, and gas shielding. Good cladding was achieved in the range of beam travel speed of 2.25m/min. In the case of copper/aluminum and bronze/aluminum substrate, the absorption of laser beam was too high to produce low diluted clad. In the case of copper/1050 aluminum, the optimal laser cladding condition was of laser power of 2.8kW, powder feed rate of 0.31g/s and beam travel speed of 2.25m/min. In the case of bronze/aluminum the optimal condition is of laser power of 2.5kW, powder feed rate of 0.31g/s, and beam travel speed of 2.36m/min.
