Development of a new laser cladding process for manufacturing cutting and stamping dies

An integrated powder delivery system is described, which can provide a highly stable, continuous, and accurate powder feeding rate, and deliver the alloy powders coaxially into the laser-generated molten pool to form high-quality cladding tracks. By combining such a powder feeding system and computer-aided design/computer aided machining system, complex, three-dimensional geometric patterns were deposited on AISI 1045 steel plate or roller via laser cladding for manufacturing cutting and stamping dies, and laminated metal matrix composites. The microstructures of cladding layers, interface, and heat-affected zone were characterized, and the microhardness of a transverse section of single cladding track was also measured. (C) 1998 Chapman & Hall.