Abstract: Laser cladding forming (LCF) is a novel advanced manufacturing technology developed in recent years. It combines the technologies of laser cladding surface modification and rapid prototyping manufacturing, and has the characteristics such as capable of forming complex components with optimized structures and better microstructure and properties, wider applied category of processing materials, higher flexibility, capable of realizing gradient function manufacturing and dieless near net shaping. Therefore, it can be widely used in the manufacturing and repairing of complex components and has an extensive application prospect. The principle, characteristics and application of laser cladding forming are introduced. The research progress of laser cladding forming are reviewed and commented from aspects of several typical laser cladding forming systems, microstructure and properties of formed components, numerical simulation of the temperature fields, measurement and control of the forming process, the generation reasons and countermeasures for residual stress and cracking, and so on. The problems existing in this technology are proposed and the development direction of this technology is prospected and predicted. In laser cladding forming technology, gratifying progresses is made in hardware systems, processes, melting pool detection and control, etc. However, forming precision and cracking are still the very thorny problems yet to be further broken through.

Key words: Dieless manufacturing, Full density, Laser cladding forming, Metal powder