INNOVATIVE APPROACH FOR CONTROL AND AUTOMATIZATION OF MICROCLADDING PROCESS

Tantalum alloys is study to orthopedic applications to produce coatings in surgical implants, but also it is employed in chemical and aerospace applications. These coatings improve the superficial mechanical properties as its biocompatible material (Fox, 2008). This work aims to automate laser laboratory equipment of CeFEMA (Center of Physics and Engineering of Advanced Materials) to perform coatings with a Nd:YAG laser in a glove box with inert atmosphere. The first stage of work was developing software in C# to sample positioning and height laser by three motorized linear positioning systems with positioning accuracy 1 mu m. This same software controls the laser intensity and the mass flow rate of Twin 10C powder feeder. Will be performed some depositions on samples to optimize the process parameters and the software interface. On each coated surface will be perform hardness measurements, wear resistance and analyze of the cross section.