Product Code: ICA10_M306

Laser Micro-Cladding: a Novel Laser Additive Technique to Produce Hard Micro-Coatings
Authors:
Jesus Del Val, University of Vigo; Vigo Spain
Rafael Comesaña, University of Vigo; Vigo Spain
Fernando Lusquiños, University of Vigo; Vigo Spain
Antonio Riveiro, University of Vigo; Vigo Spain
Felix Quintero, University of Vigo; Vigo Spain
Juan Pou, University of Vigo; Vigo Spain
Presented at ICALEO 2010

The high demand of the micro-products manufacturing driven by the micro-electromechanical systems (MEMS), has generated a series of new production techniques. The micro-cladding technique can be considered as an evolution of the conventional cladding. We propose this additive technique opposite to the thin film techniques due to its capability of processing different kinds of materials and higher processing rate. Lateral powder injection laser micro-cladding has been applied to produce metallic alloys clad strips with geometrical characteristics in the micrometer range (i.e.: with features in the range of the tenths of microns). Main feature of laser micro-cladding processing is the ability to reduce the thermal load applied to the substrate, a critical parameter in some application where the laser interaction zone is close to sensitive elements, but keeping the good mechanical properties of the coating material. Reparation of defective micro-parts and rapid prototyping are areas of application of this rapid one step micro-coating technique.
A new experimental set-up based on the use of a single mode fibre laser and a powder stream conveying system adequate to supply submicron particles was used to produce the micro-coatings. A systematic study of the influence of several processing parameters on the geometric features of the clad strips was carried out.