Surface Modification Using High Power Direct Diode Lasers - Case Studies

摘要

High power direct diode lasers [HPDDL] laser are enabling novel surface modification processes such as laser heat treating, laser alloying, and laser cladding due to their high efficiency, unique beam shape, small size, and low installation, maintenance, operating costs. For the first time the diode laser is making laser surface modification an economically viable alternative to traditional surface modification techniques. A comparison of the advantages direct diode laser versus traditional industrial lasers such as CO_2 and Nd:YAG and non-laser technologies such a vacuum carburizing, gas nitriding systems, RF induction, TIG, MIG, and plasma for each of these applications are presented. There are many installations now using diode laser for heat-treating parts ranging from thousand pound parts to small tools. The diode laser with its short wavelength and unique beam shape makes laser surface modification very easy to implement in production.