Glass moulds are very essential in the glass manufacturing industry. But, they are subject to harsh conditions, wear and tear due to repeated utilization in the manufacturing process. Due to this, Laser Cladding is done on glass moulds for increasing their resistance to wear and tear and also for repair and maintenance.
Laser Cladding has various advantages for glass mould industry:
It increases the resistance to wear and corrosion : The molten glass poured in the moulds may cause wear, and also, some compositions of glass or environment while manufacturing may cause corrosion of the mould. A coating of hard, resistant material, typically a composite alloy, is given to the mould. This alloy used in coating has properties which protect the mould from abrasion, wear and corrosion, and enhances the working life of the mould.
Restoration of worn out surface and dimensional accuracy Over a course of extended usage, due to repeated exposure to harsh conditions during the manufacturing process, the mould surface may get worn out and this also affects its dimensional accuracy. Laser Cladding is used to restore the surface to its original dimensions, thus, maintaining the dimensional accuracy of the mould.
Customisation of surface With the help of Laser Cladding, the mould surface can be given intricate patterns, designs and textures which enhances the properties of the finished glass product and give aesthetically excellent design.
Release Properties After the liquid glass in the mould has been solidified and formed into desired shape, the finished glass product has to be carefully removed from the mould, and while doing this, it is necessary that it is removed smoothly without damaging the product or the mould. It implies that the glass must not stitch or adhere to the mould surface.
This requires the mould to have excellent release properties. Laser Cladding is used to apply coatings to the mould surface which provides the mould with improved release properties. This prevents adhesion and enhances the demoulding process.
For these purposes, Laser Cladding is popular among glass mould manufacturers.
Laser Automation pvt. Ltd. Has been working in the Laser industry since 2009, we manufacture Laser Cladding machines and provide turnkey solutions for Laser Cladding. Following is a short video to demonstrate Laser Cladding of glass mould. In this video, the cast iron glass mould is cladded with Nickel based Alloy using a robotic Laser Cladding Machine. However, according to requirements, CNC based Laser Cladding machines can also be provided. According to different applications, this process can be done on a variety of materials.
