Research on multi-angle lateral laser cladding process of 316L stainless steel

Abstract Multi-angle transverse laser cladding experiments are conducted using 316L stainless steel powder to investigate the effects of powder feeding rate, laser power, and scanning speed on the cross-sectional size of the cladding layer (cladding layer height, width, and depth) and top offset of the cladding layers at 0°, 45°, 90°, and 135°. Concurrently, the microstructure and hardness of the cladding layer are examined. The results show that increasing the powder feed rate leads to a gradual rise in the cladding layer height from 0° to 135°, with the width initially increasing and then decreasing, and the depth gradually diminishing. The top offset of the cladding layer also increases progressively from 45° to 135°. Boosting the laser power results in the cross-sectional size of the cladding layer increasing from 0° to 135°, with the top offset of the layer also rising gradually from 45° to 135°. Enhancing the scanning speed results in a downward trend in the cross-sectional size of the cladding layer from 0° to 135°, and the top offset of the layer gradually diminishes from 45° to 135°. The deflection angle exerts a minimal influence on the microstructure of the cladding layer. With the increase in the deflection angle, the hardness of the cladding layer shows a general upward trend.