Repair & Remanufacturing | Reliability Enhancement & Hardening | Advanced Design

Production & Tooling

Gicam technology can use DED laser cladding to rebuild large, expensive tools, such as injection molds, foundry molds, glass molds, stamping dies, cutting tools, and semiconductor equipment components. It targets only the worn area and creates conformal cooling channels to extend the life of the tools and improve their performance.
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Reliability Improvement & Hardening

Showerheads and gas distribution plates

Localized erosion that compromises process uniformity and chip yield: a challenging application that requires extremely precise dimensional control.
These perforated plates, which ensure uniform distribution of process gases across the wafer surface, undergo localized erosion at the orifices and on the side exposed to the plasma—a defect that compromises process uniformity and, consequently, chip manufacturing yield. DED can locally rebuild eroded areas or reapply a durable coating to the active surface, offering an alternative to completely replacing a part that has been machined with high geometric precision.

However, this application remains difficult to qualify given the need to maintain extremely fine flatness and drilling precision, where DED must demonstrate a level of dimensional control equivalent to that of current precision machining processes. The economic benefit is particularly significant for older equipment or specific low-volume configurations.
Recharged active face → Eroded areas or durable coating, without replacing the plate.
Accuracy to be demonstrated → Extremely high flatness and precision drilling to be confirmed with the customer.
Showerheads and gas distribution plates
Photo: Clleyagr - Wikimedia Commons — License — modified image

Key takeaways…
Gicam technology can locally repair eroded areas of a showerhead or apply a durable coating to its active surface. This application remains difficult to characterize: DED must demonstrate a level of dimensional control equivalent to that of current precision machining, particularly in terms of flatness and drilling accuracy.

FAQ

Why is it difficult to categorize this app?

Because it is essential to maintain extremely high levels of flatness and drilling precision: DED must achieve the same level of dimensional control as precision machining.

For which types of equipment is the economic benefit greatest?