Cladding (metalworking)

Cladding is often achieved by extruding two metals through a die as well as pressing or rolling sheets together under high pressure.

It is often used to improve mechanical properties or increase corrosion resistance, repair worn out parts,[5][6] and fabricate metal matrix composites.

Some processes involve moving the laser and powder nozzle assembly over a stationary substrate to produce solidified tracks.

The motion of the substrate is guided by a CAM system which interpolates solid objects into a set of tracks, thus producing the desired part at the end of the trajectory.

By use of sensors to monitor the deposited track height and width, metallurgical properties, and temperature, constant observation from a technician is no longer required to produce a final product.

Further research has been directed to forward processing where system parameters are developed around specific metallurgical properties for user defined applications (such as microstructure, internal stresses, dilution zone gradients, and clad contact angle).