HIGHNO^® - 20-6

In Laser Material Deposition with powdered additives, the powder supply to the melt pool plays a crucial role. It significantly influences the powder utilization rate, oxidation caused by the surrounding atmosphere, as well as the quality of the layer and the cost-effectiveness of the process. In collaboration with the Fraunhofer Institute for Laser Technology ILT, various concepts for powder nozzles (powder feed nozzles) have been developed and implemented into industrial-grade products. All nozzles are modularly constructed, allowing individual components to be easily and quickly exchanged. The integrated water cooling enables continuous operation of the nozzles for several hours. A distinction is made between the off-axis (lateral) and coaxial powder nozzles, with the latter further divided into discrete and continuous types. HD focuses on continuous, coaxial powder nozzles and special coatings to enhance wear resistance for higher performance. In addition to the latest development, 'HIGHNO®,' other solutions are presented below. These can be customized based on the application or customer requirements.

In collaboration with the Fraunhofer Institute for Laser Technology ILT, HD has developed a new powder nozzle that can be used as a plug-and-play solution for serial production. The new principle involves a monolithic structure of the powder tip module, consisting of inner and outer cones. This module can be preassembled with appropriate form and positional tolerances and exchanged without the need for manual adjustment. Both the gap size and wear resistance of the powder nozzle can be adjusted according to customer preferences. The conversion can be carried out on-site in a very short time (1-2 minutes) without compromising quality.