Deposition of Ti–6Al–4V using a high power diode laser and wire, Part I: Investigation on the process characteristics

In this paper the deposition of Ti–6Al–4V wire with High Power Diode Laser was investigated by producing single tracks. The effect of the wire feeding direction and angle was firstly studied. The influence of laser power, traverse speed and wire feed rate on the weight and dimension of the deposited single tracks was then investigated. The microstructure and hardness of the single tracks were examined. Deposition with diode laser and wire was proved to provide a high deposition rate with good quality. Columnar grains were found in the deposits. Wire feeding orientation, laser power, traverse speed and wire feed rate were verified as factors which influenced the quality of the deposit. With similar energy level, different power/traverse speed produced deposits with different hardness value. Hardness values tended to increase from the deposit, via the re-melted zone till to the heat affected zone, and then decrease again when the measurements were taken in the unaffected base material.