How Does Laser Cladding and Laser Welding Differ?
They both require the use of lasers, so, how are they different?
A perfect image of how laser welding is done and completed
If you initially thought that laser welding will be as close as how laser cladding is from thermal spraying, think again.
To heighten your awareness of which is which, let’s try to discuss what laser welding is in accordance to how you understand laser cladding.
Laser Welding simply is the process of melting two (2) or more different materials together using a laser. It’s basically welding but instead of using traditional welding components, you’ll use laser.
The primary purpose of laser welding is to join 2 or more pieces of metal or substrates together – even materials that are dissimilar.
Part of the most common and the most customary applications you can have for laser welding include:
● Consumer Electronics Parts and Components
● Automotive and Aerospace Parts
● Packaging For Small and Consumer Products
● And Many More
Laser Cladding involves the melting of filler material, usually in the form of wire or powder, onto the surface of the workpiece or the substrate.
The goal of laser cladding is not to join or fuse materials together, but to deposit the material onto the surface of the workpiece or the substrate. It can be for various reasons and goals, but the most common would be for protection against corrosion, wear, as well as to add another layer of material for further protection.
So that’s how easy it is to differentiate laser cladding from laser welding. As you might have seen, the procedures aren’t that far from one another but their goals are completely different.
Is a Laser Cladding Head Important?
A laser cladding head is a type of component in a laser welder machine that carries the laser that will perform the melting of the materials.
An image of what a laser cladding head looks like ↑
It’s part of the main or the primary components of a laser welding machine because without it, the welding would not be able to take place.
Imagine a laser welding machine with just the base at its bottom part. How will it perform the welding procedure if it does not have the part or the component that would provide the welding procedure?
So, to answer that question, yes, a laser cladding head is, in fact, one of the most important things in a laser cladding or a laser welding machine.
Post time: Nov-16-2023