Working framework Interactive calculator

LMD Repairability Index

A practical way to think about whether an industrial part may be suitable for Laser Metal Deposition repair.

Preliminary decision-support only. Final feasibility depends on base material, geometry, service conditions, inspection requirements, and expert review.

Conceptual framework

Repairability starts with technical facts

Technical suitability, qualification burden, and commercial context must remain separate.

  1. 01 Technical suitability
  2. 02 Qualification burden
  3. 03 Commercial context

Reading direction: left to right: technical facts, evidence burden, business context.

Operating loop

Repairability loop

Illustrative workflow. Read left to right; Verify is the evidence boundary.

  1. 01

    Sense

  2. 02

    Model

  3. 03

    Decide

  4. 04

    Verify

Screening categories

Repairability is not one variable

Material compatibility
Damage geometry
Access to repair zone
Heat sensitivity and distortion risk
Post-machining allowance
Required properties
Inspection feasibility
Replacement cost
Downtime cost
Criticality and risk

Framework brief

What the index does and does not decide

Preliminary decision-support only. Final feasibility depends on base material, geometry, service conditions, inspection requirements, and expert review.

Definition

A preliminary screening framework for deciding whether an LMD repair request is worth expert feasibility review.

Problem it solves

Repair requests often arrive before the material, damage, access, tolerance, and inspection facts are clear.

Who it is for

Engineers, buyers, students, developers, and assistants preparing LMD repair RFQs.

Inputs required

Material grade, damage type and depth, access, geometry, service conditions, tolerance, inspection requirement, downtime, and replacement context.

Output

A repairability band, missing-information list, risk flags, and a suggested next step.

Evidence needed

Photos, drawing or CAD, material evidence, damage documentation, machining plan, inspection route, and expert review.

Limitations

It does not approve repair, validate material compatibility, or guarantee final quality.

Example use case

Screening whether a worn shaft, hammer, die, screw, or valve component has enough information for a first LMD review.

Thesis connection

Sense RFQ facts, model repairability, decide review priority, and verify through inspection evidence.

Interactive

LMD Repairability Index calculator

Rate each category from weak or unknown to strong. The output is a preliminary band, not a final feasibility decision.

Technical suitability

These are the facts that establish whether a repair candidate can move toward a technical assessment.

Qualification burden

These flags increase the evidence and review burden; they cannot improve technical suitability.

Commercial context

Commercial context can affect urgency and the business case, never the technical screening status.

What changes the decision

Repairability can change quickly when risk facts appear

Use these as red-team checks before calling an LMD repair candidate promising.

Unknown material
Cracks beyond visible damage
Tight tolerance
No post-machining route
Safety-critical service
No inspection plan

Screening bands

Interpretation bands

Very limited supportToo many core facts are unknown or the visible signals are weak.
High uncertaintyThe request may be worth discussion, but missing material, damage, access, or inspection facts dominate.
Early review candidateSome repair signals are present; expert review should focus on the weak categories first.
Promising review candidateThe visible signals justify expert review if material, machining, and inspection align.
Strong preliminary review candidateThe request is well structured, but final feasibility still depends on expert review and evidence.

Missing information

Minimum RFQ checklist

material grade
damage depth
photos
drawing/CAD
operating conditions
tolerance
hardness/coating requirement
inspection requirement