Laser Cladding and Surface Treatments

摘要

In surveying the contribution made by Bill Steen and the many others who have carried out pioneering work in the area of laser surface treatments there is perhaps no finer tribute than to point to the fact that after a long maturation period these technologies are now poised to transform manufacturing Without the detailed scientific and technical background provided by this body of work these developments would not be possible. It is significant that the most complex and difficult to control of the laser surface treatment techniques - laser cladding - currently offers the greatest potential. Through laser fast freeform fabrication (LFFF) - also known as laser direct casting (LDC) or laser engineering near-net shaping (LENS) - it is probable that rapid prototyping in functional materials will give way to rapid production as such with the advantage of direct manufacture from CAD data without the need for tools or dies. This will transform the design process by changing the relationship between unit price and production volume, making a more individuated approach to design possible and desirable. This review summarises this potential for development in the context of the body of knowledge on laser cladding that underpins it. While the principal emphasis is on laser cladding, attention will also be given to the complementary surface treatments of laser surface hardening and laser surface alloying.