Automated Process Is Immune to Damage from Back-reflections

C ladding is a well-established process for improving the wear and corrosion resistance of metal parts. While traditional arc welding and laser-based methods are economically viable processes that deliver excellent results, there is a risk of carbide grain formation during the cladding process, which can compromise the mechanical strength and lifetime of the cladding. This article reviews a new automated, laserbased process that avoids grain formation, and explores how the process has been enabled by a new generation of fiber lasers that are immune to back-reflections.