Patent ID: 7827883
Filing Date: 2010-11-09
Classification: B23K,B23P,C21D

Abstract:
1. A process for producing a cutting die having a metal base which carries a sharpened ridge extending along a predetermined path thereon, said ridge being of a composition distinct from said metal base, comprising the steps of; a) scanning in an area along said path with a laser beam to heat the metal base to form a puddle, an area of said puddle being greater than an area of said metal base on which said laser beam directly impinges and simultaneously supplying powdered metal having a composition distinct from said metal base to said puddle along said predetermined path via a tube moving concurrently with and radially spaced from an axis of said laser beam so that said laser beam melts a thin layer of the metal base to form said puddle along said path and the metal powder being delivered to the base is melted in said puddle and at a surface thereof and thus forms a band of fused metal powder along said path, b) repeating steps a) so as to heat and melt a thin layer of the previously deposited metal along with additional metal powder to form an additional layer metallurgically bonded to the first layer, and c) repeating step b) to produce multiple layers until a ridge of metal is formed along said path, said ridge having a substantially uniform height and width, and d) sharpening the ridge so formed to suit it for use in cutting.