DED-CLAD process

The CLAD® (direct additive laser construction) process developed by IREPA LASER is an industrial additive manufacturing process that consists in melting metal powders with a laser to make functional technical parts by building up several successive layers (principle of 3D metal printing). This process is part of the DED (Direct Energy Deposition) family.

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Description
Description Examples Our expertise Training

CLAD® additive manufacturing

The CLAD® laser additive construction process of IREPA LASER consists in melting metal powders with a laser in order to constitute a deposit in fully controlled dimensions.

By applying several successive layers of material, functional technical parts are made through additive manufacturing (principle of 3D metal printing).

This process is part of the DED (Direct Energy Deposition) additive manufacturing family of processes.

  • Reduction of up to 30 % of the unit cost price
  • 50 % reduction of manufacturing lead times
  • Material yield > 90 %

Tailored manufacturing

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DED-CLAD process in detail

Uses

Additive manufacturing allows the construction of three-dimensional parts through the addition of successive layers of material.

This DED manufacturing process is chiefly used in different areas of industry such as:

  • Aviation (engine parts repair, MRO)
  • Space
  • Medical engineering (implantable devices)
  • Energy (components of turbines, exchangers etc.)

Benefits

  • Reduction of up to 30 % of the unit cost price
  • 50 % reduction of manufacturing lead times
  • Material yield > 90 %
  • Reduction of fixed costs (no moulds or tooling)
  • Reduction of material procurement times and costs
  • Elimination of chips and cutting fluids
  • Cost-effective process

Advantages

  • Very high metallurgical quality
  • Manufacturing of single pieces and small runs
  • Parts with large dimensions (up to 1500 x 800 x 800 mm)
  • High construction speeds (up to 250 cm3/h)
  • Making of parts with graded materials (FGM)
  • Optimisation of parts thanks to a combination of different processes (SLM + CLAD®)
  • Accurate control over the deposited materials
  • Use of just enough material

Examples of applications

Additive manufacturing is used in different industries: aviation (engine parts repair, MRO), space, medical engineering (implantable devices), energy (components of turbines, exchangers etc.).

Aeronautics

Airduct

Technical and economic demonstrator of CLAD® technology.
Material: Ti-6Al-4V
Construction time: 1 hour 46 minutes

Advantages:

  • Manufacturing speed
  • Complex shape
  • No tools or moulds
  • Reduced fixed costs
  • Reduced waste

Courtesy of Dassault Aviation

Aeronautics

Hot/cold air mixing

Technical and economic demonstrator of CLAD® technology.
Material: Nimonic C263
Construction time: 3 hours 46 minutes
FUI FALAFEL

Courtesy of Dassault Aviation

 

Aeronautics

Fitting demonstrator

Material: Ti-6Al-4V
Construction time: 49 minutes

CLAD® expertise of IREPA LASER

IREPA LASER has a dedicated and complete machine base for handling all the industrial particularities of the additive manufacturing projects of companies.

  • CLAD® machines with five continuous axes and controlled atmosphere: < 10 ppm of O2
  • PowerCLAD® CAM software for 3D additive manufacturing
  • Fibre lasers from 200 W to 6 kW
  • Characterisation resources: X-ray diffraction, SEM etc.
  • Failure analyses: mechanical testing, NDT, chemical testing
  • Metallurgy testing laboratory
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Formations

The CLAD® (direct additive laser construction) process offers the possibility to work on parts with large or small volumes, while guaranteeing high precision and excellent metallurgical qualities.

Our training modules are based on alternating theory lessons and practical demonstrations on machines.
Using our machine base, we guarantee the use of practical case studies for a better understanding of the processes.

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Acknowledged expert for more than 30 years, IREPA LASER has developed a partners’ network with the best specialists in research and innovation related to laser technology : professional organizations, engineering schools, specialized companies …

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