Effect of laser power on properties of diamond tools manufactured using Laser Metal Deposition

In this study, which is a part of the field of additive manufacturing (AM), diamond tools are developed using the Laser Metal Deposition (LMD) process. The Ni- Based and Fe-based alloy metal powder was mixed with diamond powder and then deposited layer by layer on the substrate using LMD. The interior and exterior interfaces of the deposited layers were characterized by SEM, micro hardness testing, and light optical microscope. The microstructure and hardness of the metallic layer were also investigated. AISI 93XX series steel is a strong, durable alloy used as a substrate. The process was carried out with laser power at 1.2K, 1.4K, and 1.6K to evaluate the effect of temperature on the overlay. The results indicated that the developed tools had a good interface, improved microstructure and hardness, and reduced Heat Affected Zone (HAZ). Thus, this study concluded that the additive manufacturing and Laser Metal Deposition process is suitable for the development of diamond tools for rock cutting applications.

Keywords: additive manufacturing, laser metal deposition, diamond tools, microstructure, hardness, heat affected zone