In　this　study,　laser　cladding　technology　was　employed　to　fabricate　Inconel　625　coatings　on　the　surface　of　15CrMo　alloy　steel.　The　formation　appearance,　melt　width,　dilution　rate,　composition,　microstructure,　microhardness,　and　wear　behavior　of　the　coatings　were　investigated　using　X-ray　diffraction　(XRD),　optical　microscopy,　scanning　electron　microscopy　(SEM),　energy　dispersive　spectroscopy　(EDS),　microhardness　testing,　wear　testing　machines,　and　laser　confocal　microscopy.　Experimental　results　indicate　that　an　optimal　linear　energy　range　of　10.8–14.4　W·min/mm　and　a　powder　feeding　density　range　of　0.125–0.16　g/mm　yield　high-quality　coatings　with　well-formed　structures,　refined　grains,　and　enhanced　microhardness.　For　the　first　time,　the　concept　of　powder　feeding　density　was　introduced.　Based　on　the　functional　relationships　between　linear　energy,　powder　feeding　density,　and　coating　characteristics,　bead　width　and　dilution　rate　models　for　Inconel　625　coatings　were　established,　providing　a　theoretical　basis　for　engineers　to　optimize　the　laser　cladding　process.　Furthermore,　friction　and　wear　test　results　demonstrated　that　the　coatings　possess　excellent　wear　resistance　under　optimal　parameters,　with　the　primary　wear　mechanisms　being　adhesive　wear　and　oxidative　wear.　©　2024　Elsevier　Ltd