Effects of the cladding parameters on the deposition efficiency in pulsed Nd:YAG laser cladding

The purpose of the present study is to analyze the effects of the cladding parameters on the deposition efficiency in cladding of Co alloy powder by a low power pulsed Nd:YAG laser, and to optimize the cladding parameters for maximizing the deposition efficiency. Experiments were designed, conducted and analyzed by the Taguchi experimental method using a L18 orthogonal array. It was found that the powder feed position, powder feed angle, powder feed rate and travel speed had significant effects on the deposition efficiency, but the shielding gas type, laser pulse shape and focal position had nearly no effects. The optimal cladding conditions in the experimental range were obtained at 0 mm of the powder feed position, 50° of the powder feed angle, 0.62 g/s of the powder feed rate and 6.7 mm/s of the travel speed. From the confirmation experiment, the average deposition efficiency of 12.3% was achieved at the optimized cladding conditions as statistically predicted.