In order to investigate the effects of process parameters on the quality of laser cladding layer, Co-based alloy laser cladding experiments based on orthogonal method was performed on the 304 stainless steel by high power diode laser (HPDL). The results show that the laser scanning speed has the most significant influence on the width, height and depth of laser cladding layer, and the powder feeding rate has the most important influence on the hardness of laser cladding layer. For the sake of getting optimum process parameters and reducing the times of process experiments in practical engineering application, a back propagation (BP) neural network model was established to predict the optimum process parameters. The calculation and predication results show a good agreement with the experimental results. The research results have both significant reference value and guidance meaning in processing parameters of Co-based alloy cladding by a high power diode laser in the application

The objectives of this study are to optimize the key process parameters of laser cladding remanufacturing parts, improve the sealing quality of the hemispherical valve and prolong and improve its service life and reliability. A high-power fiber-coupled semiconductor laser was used to fabricate a single Co-based alloy cladding layer on the pump valve material ZG45 plate. The key process parameters of laser power, scanning speed and powder feeding rate in the process of laser remanufacturing are taken as optimization variables, and the coating width, coating height, coating depth, aspect ratio and dilution rate are taken as response indexes. Based on the response surface analysis method, the central compound experiment is designed using Design-Expert software. The variance analysis of the experimental results is performed, and the regression prediction model of the process parameters relative to the corresponding index is established. Through analysis of the established perturbation diagram and three-dimensional response surface, it is concluded that the main influence factors of melting width and penetration depth are laser power and positive effect, and the main influence factors of melting height are scanning speed and negative effect. The average error of each regression prediction model is lower than 10%. The above research work has important guiding significance for optimizing the process parameters and improving the cladding quality of cobalt-based alloy on ZG45.

This paper investigates the influence of carrier gas flow on the external flow field of coaxial powder feeding nozzle. FLUENT software was adopted to establish gas-solid two-phase flow. The simulation of powder stream field under different carrier gas flow was also carried out. Results show that the larger the flow of carrier gas is, the higher the gas flow field velocity at the nozzle outlet is. At the same time, the concentration at the convergence point is lower, and the convergent point is maintained at 0.015 m. Under the condition of 4 L/min, the powder flow convergence is good. When it exceeds 4 L/min, powder spot diameter increases. The experiment of powder aggregation and laser cladding forming were completed, which shows that the forming effect is the best one under the condition of 4 L/min. It is consistent with the simulation analysis results and has a high reference to the optimization of the process parameters of coaxial nozzle.

Thermal damage to diamonds is a major limitation in laser powder bed fusion (LPBF) processing of metal matrix diamond composites. In this paper, a numerical simulation model was established to describe the thermal effect of the Diamond-CuSn10 composite on the LPBF process. The simulation results show that the temperature of the diamond presents a double-peak structure, and the double-peak temperature curve shape can be modulated by modifying the laser scanning offset and the size of the diamond powder. And it suggests that the heat of the diamond mainly comes from the transfer of the molten pool. Then, combined with the experimental phenomenon, the mechanism of diamond graphitization in the LPBF process is analyzed. It indicates that since the surface defects of the diamond inhibit the heat conduction of the diamond, the temperature accumulates on the surface, leading to the graphitization of the diamond. Finally, based on this model, the potential of Ti-coated diamonds to prevent and reduce thermal damage in the LPBF process has been extensively studied. It is found that a Ti coating with low thermal conductivity can effectively reduce diamond temperature and improve diamond graphitization resistance. This study can provide a good method and basis for the preliminary selection of LPBF process parameters and the understanding of the graphitization mechanism of diamond tools.