Laser Metal Deposition Process for Product Remanufacturing

• Published in: Advanced Manufacturing Technologies pp. 267 - 291
• Main Authors: Mahamood, Rasheedat M., Akinlabi, Esther T., Owolabi, Moses G.
• Format: Book Chapter
• Language: English
• Published: Switzerland Springer International Publishing AG 2017; Springer International Publishing
• Series: Materials Forming, Machining and Tribology
• Subjects: Additive manufacturing; Ceramics & glass technology; Laser metal deposition; Remanufacturing; Repair; Sustainability; Titanium; Tool making
• ISBN: 9783319560984; 3319560980
• ISSN: 2195-0911; 2195-092X
• DOI: 10.1007/978-3-319-56099-1_12

Remanufacturing is a process of bringing a damaged part back to its perfect working condition. The cost of remanufacturing equipment or parts is cheaper than the cost of buying a new one. The conventional manufacturing method involves processes which are energy inefficient that causes lots of emissions, thereby contributing immensely to the global warming problems. An alternative manufacturing process is inevitably required which is capable of reducing the environmental impact during various phases of product life cycle that helps in cost saving by extending the service life of equipment or parts which will in turn greatly improve the country’s economy. The advanced remanufacturing techniques such as laser metal deposition (LMD) process that belongs to a class of additive manufacturingAdditive manufacturing processes can overcome the limitations of conventional manufacturing processes and capable to repair engineered parts having complex features that are difficult to access at the repair site. LMD can be used to fabricate part directly from its three-dimensional (3D) computer-aided design (CAD) model just by adding materials layer by layer. This technology offers design flexibility to engineers by allowing modification of an existing design without having to start from the scratch which is a basic requirement in product remanufacturingRemanufacturing. This chapter discusses the capability of LMD process for restoring and remanufacturing high-valued components back to their perfect working conditions. Some of the research works that demonstrate the capability and effectiveness of using LMD for remanufacturing of high-valued products that is sustainable, cheap, and above all energy efficient are briefed. A case study to demonstrate the metallurgical integrity and properties of titanium alloy powder deposited on Ti6Al4V substrate using the LMD process and its sustainable aspects is also discussed in this chapter.