Laser metal deposition cladding of weld seams in automotive parts

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10279431-B2
Application number	US-201314436893-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 24, 2013
Priority date	Oct 24, 2012
Publication date	May 7, 2019
Grant date	May 7, 2019

Abstract

A part, such as an automotive part, is provided. The part includes at least two work pieces which are joined together at a weld seam. The weld seam has a laser metal deposition layer with at least one of nickel and iron, and the laser metal deposition layer is substantially entirely free of silicate islands. The part further includes a painted, phosphate or electrocoated coating which is bonded with at least a portion of the laser metal deposition layer of the weld seam.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A method of making a part, comprising the steps of:
welding at least two work pieces of steel at a joint to form a weld seam;
melting with a laser beam a portion of the weld seam and a powder that only consists of nickel and iron or only consists of iron or only consists of nickel to form into the weld seam a top layer that includes at least one of nickel and iron and is free of silicate islands; and
without removing any material from the weld seam through material abrasion or chemical processes, applying a coating onto at least a portion of the top layer through a painting, phosphating or electrocoating process.

2. The method as set forth in claim 1 wherein the step of applying the coating is further defined as painting at least a portion of the top layer.

3. The method as set forth in claim 1 wherein the step of applying the coating is further defined as phosphating at least a portion of the top layer.

4. The method as set forth in claim 1 wherein the step of applying the coating is further defined as electrocoating at least a portion of the top layer.

5. The method as set forth in claim 1 wherein the powder consists only of nickel.

6. The method as set forth in claim 1 wherein the powder consists only of iron.

7. The method as set forth in claim 1 further including the step of simultaneously emitting the laser beam, the powder, and a shielding gas from a single head such that the powder is emitted outwardly on opposite sides of the laser beam and such that the shielding gas surrounds the laser beam and the powder.

Assignees

• Magna Int Inc
• Hanschmann Florian
• Magda Jeremy Brian
• Smith Kevin Dale

Inventors

• Hanschmann Florian
• Magda Jeremey Brian
• Smith Kevin Dale

Classifications

• B23K26/342

  Build-up welding · CPC title

• B23K9/173

  and of a consumable electrode · CPC title

• B23K2101/18

  Sheet panels · CPC title

• Y10T403/479

  Cross-Sectional Technologies · mapped topic

• B23K2103/04

  Steel {or steel} alloys · CPC title