The Optimization Of Processing Parameters And Experimental Investigation On Metal Components Fabricated By Laser Cladding

Laser cladding rapid prototyping is an advanced fabrication technology that combines the rapid prototyping technique and laser surface strengthening technology. It has a promising future since density metal components can be rapidly deposited by laser cladding metal materials additively. Compared with the traditional manufacturing technologies, components fabricated by laser cladding prototyping have better mechanical properties. In the paper, the optimization of processing parameters by SAS software is investigated, and the experimental investigation on the metal components fabricated by laser cladding is also discussed, the main contents are as follows:First, the process of laser cladding prototyping is analyzed. The mutual actions among the laser beam, metal powders and the substrates are studied in detail. The energy transfer and the mass transfer during the process of laser cladding are discussed and the convection model is established. In the paper, the influencing factors of cladding components are analyzed, which can provide academic supports to the optimization of processes parameters and experimental investigation.Second, the optimal processing parameters during the laser cladding process are studied by Plackett-Burman design and Response Surface Analysis (RSA) with SAS. The results show that the effects of laser power, scanning speed, the velocity of feeding powder on the quality of cladding components are significant by Plackett-Burman design and analysis. The typical correlative analysis by SAS between the cladding width and cladding height are analyzed. The results indicate that the better cladding layers are received by optimizing processing parameters.Third, the experimental study of the metal components fabricated by laser cladding is investigated based on the optimization of parameters. The influences of the main processing parameters on the surface quality under single path and single layer condition are analyzed. The laser power and the height of Z-axis in multilayer cladding are discussed as well as heat dissipation measure during the cladding process. Several problems that maybe happen are discussed, such as warpage deformation, the instability of powder flow, the cladding crack and the air hole and so on. Many corresponding improvement measures are put forward as well. The further studies of cladding components are carried out. The interior structure and components of laser cladding layers are observed. The hardness measurement along the deep direction of layers and the friction and abrasion experiment of laser cladding parts are carried out as well. The results indicate that: the components fabricated by laser cladding prototyping have better mechanical properties than those produced by the traditional manufacturing technology.