What are the advantages and disadvantages of laser cladding

Laser cladding technology has some advantages compared to traditional processes.

The surface of the process is smooth, and the amount of workpieces processed in the later stage is very small, which saves the processing cost of workpieces for enterprises and can strengthen or repair some high-precision parts, with a low probability of workpiece deformation.

The dilution rate of laser cladding is relatively low, and the coating performance of the workpiece can be fully guaranteed.
The microstructure of the laser cladding layer is relatively dense, and the defects of the workpiece are relatively small.
In addition, there is a technology called high-speed laser cladding, which has some additional advantages:
The line speed can reach 100m/min, greatly improving the cladding efficiency, and the overall processing efficiency is 3-4 times that of conventional cladding.
The cladding layer is flat and can be directly ground and polished without the need for turning, which greatly saves material and processing costs.
Thin coating fusion (0.2mm-0.3mm) and medium thick coating fusion (0.3-1.5) can be performed, with both thin and thick coatings being considered. In special cases, multi-layer fusion can also be performed.
High speed cladding has low heat input to the workpiece and minimal thermal deformation, making it suitable for processing thin-walled and small parts.
The dilution rate can be controlled.
Laser power density is high and can be used for melting high melting point powder materials.
It can achieve surface strengthening of non-ferrous metal materials such as copper, aluminum, and titanium.

Overall, laser cladding technology has many advantages such as the ability to repair and strengthen high-precision parts, reduce workpiece processing costs, reduce heat input to workpieces, and control dilution rates. However, this technology still has some drawbacks, such as high cost of high-power lasers, high maintenance costs, and high technical difficulty. Therefore, in practical applications, it is necessary to consider whether to use laser cladding technology based on specific needs and actual situations.