Powder laser cladding as a component of Industry 4.0 machine building systems

This article examines the problem of feeding powder material to laser cladding systems based on state-of-the-art industrial digital transformation standards and presents an overview of existing designs, their advantages and disadvantages. Based on the review, to propose a powder feed system concept that improves the overall cladding performance, control, and automation. The article reviews the main issues related to powder feed system that lead to certain process difficulties in the contemporary industry and increase the amount of subsequent machining in the process. The article reviews approaches to solving the problems of powder feeding to the laser cladding area. The article discusses key aspects related to powder feed systems and provides advice on designing an improved system to feed powder to the laser impact area, bringing powder cladding technology closer to Industry 4.0 systems. Based on the review, the authors propose a powder feed system concept that improves the overall cladding performance, control and automation. Digital process transformation is achieved by the use of a sensor system and reduced inertia of the powder feed process by improving the feed system design and the dosing unit location in the laser cladding powder system.