Santa Clara, Calif. – Coherent Inc., Hoganas (China) Co Ltd., and ABB have opened a laser applications center at the Hoganas facility in Shanghai.
This new facility offers access to a Coherent HighLight 4000L, 4 kW, direct diode laser system, mounted on a ABB IRB 2600 robot, enabling users to utilize lasers as part of the metal cladding process. Application center personnel will supply the knowledge and experience to optimize cladding process parameters and help those developing new cladding techniques to understand the suitability of laser technology.
"Hoganas has developed a range of powders that are particularly well suited to the needs of high-tech surface coating methods, such as laser cladding," reports Hoganas Asia president Per Engdahl. "The expertise that our applications engineers offer in utilizing these materials will facilitate effective implementation of laser cladding, and shorten the process development time scale for our customers."
"Direct diode laser cladding offers several practical advantages over traditional arc welding and thermal spraying methods. For example, the laser technique avoids heat distortion of the part, thus eliminating the need for post processing. It also delivers a clad having extremely low dilution, reduced porosity and good surface uniformity," notes Frank Gaebler, Coherent director of marketing.
Hoganas AB produces iron and metal powders; ABB supplies industrial robots with an installed base of more than 190,000 robots; and Coherent Inc. provides laser-based solutions to the commercial and scientific research markets.
