1. Laser Cladding & Heat Treatment Services
30/10/2015
LASER CLADDING SERVICES
Laser Cladding of an AISI 41
While drilling a 4 metre diameter service
main drive spindle thrust bearings suffered
shattering, causing the drive spindle
the shaft. The service tunnel being drilled was the 4
meters required. The shaft is subjected to 475knm of torque when drilling the service tunnels.
contractor immediately contacted Laser Cladding Services
& machined in the shortest possible timeframe. Although it was late on Friday, staff were organised for
weekend shift work on short notice, as having the rig down would run up a bill of thousands of doll
Preparations:
The drive spindle was sent overnight
from Kalgoorlie by an express courier
arriving at the workshop around 5.30am
on Saturday morning, where staff from
LCS was ready to strip the drive spindle
and set it up in the lathe for prep-
machining. A minimum clean-up was
performed on the damaged spindle shaft,
which removed all the deep gouges
caused by the bearing failure. On
completion of prep-machining, dye
penetrant testing was performed to
check for any possible cracks or unseen
damage, of which none were found.
Laser Cladding:
The drive spindle shaft was then set up in
the laser cladding machine and clad with
a layer of SS410L. The area requiring
cladding was 190mm in diameter by
220mm long, and due to the severe
damage caused by the bearings failing
needed to be weld overlayed with a 2mm
thick layer.
The shaft was pre-heated to 75°C to
remove any moisture content prior to
cladding. 45 grams per minute of
cladding powder were laser welded to
the shaft at 700mm per minute. Interpass
temperature was just over 115°C
throughout the cladding process, which
was completed in around 3 hours.
Laser Cladding Services Pty Ltd
Lot 500, Fields
Email: enquiries@lasercladdingservices.com.au
Laser Cladding & Heat Treatment Services
LASER CLADDING SERVICES
Laser Cladding of an AISI 4140 Drive Spindle
service tunnel deep underground in a Kalgoorlie gold mine,
suffered major failure, with several of the cylindrical rolle
the drive spindle to be deeply scored and torn when the bearings then seized and spun on
being drilled was the 4
th
and final hole, and had progressed 10 meters of the 60
The shaft is subjected to 475knm of torque when drilling the service tunnels.
immediately contacted Laser Cladding Services (LCS) to arrange for the drive spindle to be laser clad
& machined in the shortest possible timeframe. Although it was late on Friday, staff were organised for
weekend shift work on short notice, as having the rig down would run up a bill of thousands of doll
The drive spindle was sent overnight
by an express courier,
arriving at the workshop around 5.30am
staff from
ready to strip the drive spindle
up was
performed on the damaged spindle shaft,
which removed all the deep gouges
machining, dye
penetrant testing was performed to
any possible cracks or unseen
, of which none were found.
spindle shaft was then set up in
and clad with
. The area requiring
in diameter by
, and due to the severe
s failing,
overlayed with a 2mm
heated to 75°C to
remove any moisture content prior to
cladding powder were laser welded to
Interpass
, which
Drive Spindle set up in the laser cladding machine ready to be laser
welded with SS410L
Drive Spindle set up in the lathe ready to be prep
damage caused by the thrust bearings failing
Laser Cladding Services Pty Ltd
ABN 71 154 848 227
ACN 154 848 227
Lot 500, Fields Street, Pinjarra, WA 6208
enquiries@lasercladdingservices.com.au
Page 1
deep underground in a Kalgoorlie gold mine, the drilling rig’s
cylindrical roller bearings
then seized and spun on
and final hole, and had progressed 10 meters of the 60
The shaft is subjected to 475knm of torque when drilling the service tunnels. The drilling
spindle to be laser clad
& machined in the shortest possible timeframe. Although it was late on Friday, staff were organised for
weekend shift work on short notice, as having the rig down would run up a bill of thousands of dollars per day.
laser cladding machine ready to be laser
lathe ready to be prep-machined. The
s failing is quite evident

2. Laser Cladding & Heat Treatment Services
30/10/2015
Finish Machining:
Due to the tight tolerances on the finish
ambient temperature before being set up in the lathe for final machining.
0.02mm to 0.05mm for an s6 interference fit
other components before being driven back to Kalgoorlie on Sunday.
Assembly& Dispatched:
Thanks to the staff at LCS the drive s
machined, laser clad, finished machined
assembled in the shortest time frame possible
replacement value in excess of $53,000 the whole projec
was completed over the weekend for under $5,000
resulting in significant cost savings for the drilling
contractor.
For more information please visit Laser Cladding
Laser cladding in process – the minimal heat input means
post weld heat treatment isn’t required
Finish machining in progress – 0.02mm to 0.05mm s6
interference fit required on the bearing journal
Laser Cladding Services Pty Ltd
Lot 500, Fields
Email: enquiries@lasercladdingservices.com.au
Laser Cladding & Heat Treatment Services
he tight tolerances on the finish machining, the shaft was left to cool down for a few hours, to close to
ambient temperature before being set up in the lathe for final machining. Finished machined to a tolerance of
s6 interference fit, the drive spindle then needed to be re-assembled with several
components before being driven back to Kalgoorlie on Sunday.
the drive spindle was prep-
finished machined and re-
in the shortest time frame possible. With a
,000 the whole project
was completed over the weekend for under $5,000,
resulting in significant cost savings for the drilling
For more information please visit Laser Cladding Services at www.lasercladdingservices.com.au
the minimal heat input means
post weld heat treatment isn’t required
Completed laser welded Drive
free and ready for final machining
0.02mm to 0.05mm s6
required on the bearing journal
Re-assembled Drive Spindle ready to be sent back
to one of Kalgoorlie’s underground gold mines
Laser Cladding Services Pty Ltd
ABN 71 154 848 227
ACN 154 848 227
Lot 500, Fields Street, Pinjarra, WA 6208
enquiries@lasercladdingservices.com.au
Page 2
machining, the shaft was left to cool down for a few hours, to close to
achined to a tolerance of
assembled with several
www.lasercladdingservices.com.au
rive Spindle – distortion
free and ready for final machining
pindle ready to be sent back
underground gold mines