Laser metal deposition device and method

Abstract

A laser metal deposition device comprising: a wire nozzle for delivering a wire to be deposited on a substrate, the wire nozzle and substrate adapted for relative movement with respect to each other, a laser source for delivering a laser beam configured to melt the wire, a multi-axes force sensor configured to determine the force between the wire and the substrate, and a controller adapted to control, based on the measured forces by the force sensor, at least one of: output power of the laser source, current supplied to the wire, rate of relative movement of the wire nozzle and laser beam with respect to the substrate, or location of the wire nozzle with respect to the laser beam in at least one axis.