Laser powder cladding sets a new standard for Stanley's cutting tool technology, making it sharper and more durable.

After three days of automatic operation, Stanley Black & Decker's cladding application set the world's longest-running, uninterrupted single-layer cladding process. This may seem magical, but it is only the first step for this advanced manufacturing company. The Stanley brand is synonymous with factory utility tools. Professional cementers, carpet coaters, and decorators on construction sites all over the world have used Stanley knives in their careers. In many markets such as packaging and handicrafts, Stanley's iconic products play multiple applications.

The knives themselves are very simple, and there are two main specifications: trapezoidal knives favored by British and American customers, and closed segment knives favored by the European market. The outer packaging of these two knives uses Stanley's iconic yellow and black retractable knife handle. In fact, the excellence of the Stanley brand makes innovation and R&D not an easy task. This is also a challenge faced by the R&D staff of Stanley Black & Decker.

Cladding cemented carbide powder

Carbide is a new generation of Stanley knives. The integration of product innovation, process technology, and marketing skills is committed to improving the application of this practical tool to a whole new level. The core of the tool is to use TRUMPF's laser cladding solution to cladding cemented carbide powder on the tool. After a series of "soft launches" recently conducted around the world, Carbide Tools ushered in its first marketing campaign. This revolutionary technology was developed and installed by Stanley Black & Decker's UK factory, which further enhances the existing traditional tool manufacturing capabilities.

Today, Carbide tools are produced in six specially constructed interconnected application centers. Importantly, these application centers are equipped with TRUMPF's laser cladding head and camera system, as well as roll-shaped tools that are automatically fed under the nozzle. TRUMPF TruDisk technology provides laser light sources, and the TRUMPF TruMark laser marking system is integrated into each center.

To produce the required trimming angle, the tools are often processed separately. Stanley Black & Decker's application center cladding cemented carbide powder on the cutting edge of each tool.

"Trump is undoubtedly the leader in the high-end laser market, which makes our cooperation very successful." Stanley R&D manager Peter Culf said, "Without TRUMPF's laser technology support, it would be difficult for us to achieve precise cladding. Process." This is a process that increases the hardness of standard tools from 800HV to 1200HV. "In the industry-standard CATRA testing machine test, Carbide tools showed almost indestructible performance," Gulf said. But unexpectedly, this has caused marketing to somehow get into trouble. "Market research shows that our commitment to the life of any Carbide tool that is 10 or 12 times the life of our standard tool has been questioned by the market." Culf explained, "However, with Stanley's reputation, the market is The promise of a lifespan increase of more than 5 times is acceptable. In fact, the actual lifespan of our products is far greater than the advertised value."

Market cooperation has become a common theme in the project. The Stanley Black & Decker marketing team insists on making a product that looks different in the market. The special black edges produced during the laser cladding process are exactly what the market needs, although it requires more argon protective gas to remove. Stanley decided to keep this "devilish black and hard" appearance, and even used laser marking to engrave the black Carbide brand on the edge of the blade to enhance the effect.