HomeNewsArticle Display


Redirecting...

Additive Manufacturing System Laser-Precise with Aerospace Parts

  • Published
  • By Dr. Mary Kinsella
  • Materials and Manufacturing
WRIGHT-PATTERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Ohio --  Researchers from the Air Force Research Laboratory and the Missouri University of Science and Technology (MS&T) developed a world-class hybrid laser deposition and machining system. The metal additive manufacturing system integrates laser deposition with machining processes to form a hybrid manufacturing process to build precision metal parts for aerospace components.

This hybrid process allows higher precision dimensional control along with the ability to characterize material properties as the part is generated. This state-of-the-art system will allow the rapid creation of prototype metallic components using high-temperature materials such as titanium alloys and tool steels, and will reduce the amount of required support structure during the build by up to 60 percent.

Rapid prototyping technology is of interest to various industries that are looking for a process to build a part directly from a computer-aided design model in a short time. Among the processes used for this, the direct metal deposition process is one that directly manufactures a fully dense metal part without intermediate steps. A process planning tool assists in the determination of deposition parameters and material soundness, which are complicated by complex geometries, thermal history and laser-powder interactions.

Hybrid laser deposition and machining is a unique MS&T process, and potentially a very competitive approach to the fabrication and repair of metallic structures. As part of an AFRL program, MS&T developed the hybrid additive-subtractive process for high temperature metallic materials, including tool steel and titanium.