Product Code: ICAL08_P122

Fully Closed-Loop Semi-Automatic Laser Cladding Cell in a Serial Production of Small Tools
Authors:
Jari Tuominen, Tampere University of Technology; Tampere Finland
Jyrki Latokartano, Institute of Production Engineering, Laser Application Laboratory, Tampere University of Technology; Tampere Finland
Petri Vuoristo, Tampere University of Technology; Tampere Finland
Presented at ICALEO 2008

Various small metal forming tools made of quenched and tempered hot work tool steels are susceptible to serious scuffing at high temperatures, thermal softening and fatigue leading to premature failures and extra interruptions in production due to tool replacements. Laser cladding combined with appropriate material selection proved to be appropriate technique to increase the tool life significantly. For this purpose fully closed-loop semi-automatic laser cladding cell was established. It consists of induction unit for preheating and Nd:YAG laser for cladding, which both are adaptively controlled. Because several surfaces should be laser clad within one tool, laser and cladding nozzle were kept stationary while the robot moved the tool. Due to small dimensions of the tool heat accumulated largely during open loop laser cladding process leading to increasingly higher levels of dilution and lower levels of hardness between different surfaces. Using adaptively controlled laser power coatings on different surfaces exhibited homogenous quality. Induction unit replaced the previously used, slow and inaccurate resistor type heating elements decreasing the process time and improving the repeatability.