Laser cladding: Turbine blade (energy)

The aim is to restore and reinforce highly stressed areas at the blade tip, which are subjected to particularly severe service conditions. The goal is to significantly extend the service life of high-value components without compromising their integrity, while working on complex geometries with significant accessibility constraints.

IREPA LASER implements localised cladding using powder-fed laser DED, applied only to the critical functional areas. Specific deposition strategies are developed to control dilution and heat input simultaneously, while the toolpaths are adapted to ensure access to complex areas.

The performance of the process relies on extremely fine control of the energy deposited, to avoid any alteration of the blade structure. Controlling dilution is essential to preserve the properties of the deposited material and ensure reliable metallurgical continuity. In addition, work must be carried out on hard-to-reach areas while maintaining a consistent level of repeatability and quality.

The critical areas are clad with controlled, reproducible metallurgical quality. Dilution and thermal effects are finely controlled, preserving the integrity of the parts. This approach results in a significant increase in the in-service life of the blades.