摘要 |
Direct metal deposition (DMD) is used to fabricate knife edges with extended service life. A metal alloy powder is deposited along a blank and melted with a laser beam so that the powder solidifies into a strip of material having a hardness and/or wear resistance greater than that of the starting material. The piece is then finished to produce a sharp edge in the solidified material. The powder may be melted while it is being deposited, or it may be melted after being deposited. A slot or groove may be formed in the blank with the metal alloy powder being deposited into the slot or groove. A hardened steel alloy powder is deposited onto a mild steel blank. For example, a tool steel or vanadium steel powder may be deposited onto a 1018 steel blank. An invention line-beam nozzle may be used for deposition and/or powder melting. |