Laser repair or laser cladding: two applications, two objectives
Repair and cladding both use laser DED to deposit metal, but they meet different needs.
Repair restores a damaged part to its original dimensions and functional properties. Cladding adds material to restore or improve the performance of a surface, both preventively and correctively.
Saving a damaged part
Repair
Recovering a worn, cracked or degraded part by rebuilding the damaged area, restoring its original dimensions and performance.
Improving a property
Cladding
Applying a suitable alloy to reinforce a surface and improve its resistance to wear, corrosion or temperature.
Extending service life
Preventive or corrective cladding
Reinforcing the most heavily stressed areas to delay wear and extend the component's service life.
Protecting a new part
Preventive cladding
From the manufacturing stage, protecting only the areas exposed to the most severe stresses, without using an expensive material for the whole part.
Optimising material costs
Targeted cladding
Depositing just the right amount of a high-value alloy, only where its performance is needed, to reduce the overall cost of the part.
What do you need?
Repairing a part, improving its performance, extending its service life or reducing its cost: laser DED can meet very different industrial objectives. The solution depends on the part, its material, the stresses it undergoes and the desired result.
Not sure which solution suits your needs?
You do not need to decide for yourself whether it is a repair or a cladding job. We analyse your part, its environment and your objectives to define the most appropriate solution.
FAQ
Yes. The same part can first be repaired to restore a damaged area, then clad to reinforce or protect that area. This approach combines restoration and performance enhancement where the operating conditions justify it.
Not necessarily. Repair and cladding serve different purposes. Repair aims to restore a damaged part, whereas cladding aims to improve or protect specific areas. Durability depends on the material, the loads involved and the solution implemented.
Yes. The same area can be repaired several times over the life of a part, provided the metallurgical and functional conditions allow it. In aerospace, certain engine parts can be repaired up to 6 times on the same area to compensate for wear and extend their service life.
You do not need to work out for yourself whether it is a repair or a cladding job. We analyse the condition of the part, its material, its operating conditions and your objective to identify the most suitable solution and define the process to be used.
