Periodic Reporting for period 1 - LESA (Laser bonding of linear edged super-abrasive blades)
Reporting period: 2015-07-01 to 2015-12-31
1) C4 Carbides’ current market position as a manufacturer and supplier of abrasive products,
2) The use of super-abrasive advanced materials such as synthetic diamond and cubic boron nitride.
3) The use of laser deposition to create a super-abrasive tooth form.
We have investigated the applicability of using Laser Metal Deposition (LMD) to weld abrasive particles to metal substrates – a process we call Laser Super Abrasive Deposition.
The project has progressed following the work carried out in the previous 6 months; 2 patents have been filed and the IPR work will continue for some time. Customer contact has been made with several pioneering clients and the product/process concept is meeting with enthusiasm at all levels. There is a lot of work required to turn the vision into reality and it is the company’s firm intention to apply for the phase 2 SMEI.
The game changing opportunity will come from further development work on (1) the use of powder and laser application to produce teeth from a combination of hard metal, as well as (2) super abrasive and metal matrix particles. This has implications for product innovation and new value proposition as well as manufacturing innovation.