System and method for laser cladding

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016175985-A1
Application number	US-201414577009-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Dec 19, 2014
Priority date	Dec 19, 2014
Publication date	Jun 23, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

A method for applying a cladding layer to a substrate is provided. The method includes applying a cladding layer from a start position using a laser operating in a continuous mode of operation. The method also includes completing the cladding layer at a stop position that is in close proximity to the start position. The area between the start position and the stop position defines a gap. The method further includes applying the laser directly to at least the gap while operating in a pulse mode of operation and filling the gap with an overlap cladding layer using the laser operating in the continuous mode of operation.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A method for applying a cladding layer to a substrate, comprising:
applying a cladding layer from a start position using a laser operating in a continuous mode of operation; completing the cladding layer at a stop position in close proximity to the start position, the area between the start position and the stop position defining a gap; applying the laser directly to at least the gap while operating in a pulse mode of operation; and filling the gap with an overlap cladding layer using the laser operating in the continuous mode of operation.

2 . The method of claim 1 further comprising supplying a shielding gas to the substrate.

3 . The method of claim 1 , wherein applying the cladding layer comprises dispensing a cladding material on the substrate.

4 . The method of claim 1 further comprising applying the laser directly to clad ends of the cladding layer while operating in the pulse mode of operation.

5 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the overlap cladding layer overlaps at least a portion of the cladding layer.

6 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the substrate has an annular shape.

7 . The method of claim 6 , wherein an angle subtended by the cladding layer with a center of the substrate is in a range of 350 to 359 degrees.

8 . The method of claim 6 , wherein an angle subtended by the overlap cladding layer with a center of the substrate is in a range of 2 to 12 degrees.

9 . A computer-implemented method for laser cladding a substrate, the method comprising:
applying a cladding layer from a start position using a laser operating in a continuous mode of operation; completing the cladding layer at a stop position in close proximity to the start position, the area between the start position and the stop position defining a gap; applying the laser directly to at least the gap while operating in a pulse mode of operation; and filling the gap with an overlap cladding layer using the laser operating in the continuous mode of operation.

10 . The computer-implemented method of claim 9 further comprising supplying a shielding gas to the substrate.

11 . The computer-implemented method of claim 9 , wherein applying the cladding layer comprises dispensing a cladding material on the substrate.

12 . The computer-implemented method of claim 9 further comprising applying the laser directly to clad ends of the cladding material while operating the laser in pulse mode of operation.

13 . The computer-implemented method of claim 9 , wherein the overlap cladding layer overlaps at least a portion of the cladding layer.

14 . The computer-implemented method of claim 9 , wherein the substrate has an annular shape.

15 . The computer-implemented method of claim 14 , wherein an angle subtended by the cladding layer with a center of the substrate is in a range of 350 to 359 degrees.

16 . The computer-implemented method of claim 14 , wherein an angle subtended by the overlap cladding layer with a center of the substrate is in a range of 2 to 12 degrees.

17 . A system configured to apply a cladding layer to a substrate, the system comprising:
a laser head configured to generate a laser; a dispensing apparatus configured to dispense a cladding material; and a controller communicably coupled to the laser head and the dispensing apparatus, the controller configured to:
apply a cladding layer from a start position using the laser operating in a continuous mode of operation;
complete the cladding layer at a stop position in close proximity to the start position, the area between the start position and the stop position defining a gap;
apply the laser directly to at least the gap while operating in a pulse mode of operation; and
fill the gap with an overlap cladding layer using the laser operating in the continuous mode of operation.

18 . The system of claim 17 further comprising a nozzle configured to supply a shielding gas to the substrate.

19 . The system of claim 17 , wherein applying the cladding layer to the substrate comprises dispensing the cladding material from the dispensing apparatus to the substrate.

20 . The system of claim 17 , wherein the substrate has an annular shape.

Assignees

• Caterpillar Inc

Inventors

• Chojnacki Tomasz J
• Sordelet Daniel J

Classifications

• B23K26/34 Primary

  Laser welding for purposes other than joining · CPC title

• B23K26/12

  in a special environment or atmosphere, e.g. in an enclosure · CPC title

• B23K26/0665

  by beam condensation on the workpiece, e.g. for focusing · CPC title

• B23K26/0622

  by shaping pulses · CPC title

• B23K26/123

  in an atmosphere of particular gases · CPC title