High-throughput, in situ imaging of multi-layer powder-blown directed energy deposition with angled nozzle

Rev Sci Instrum. 2022 Feb 1;93(2):023701. doi: 10.1063/5.0077140.

Abstract

Laser metal additive manufacturing has become an increasingly popular technology due to its flexibility in geometry and materials. As one of the commercialized additive processes, powder-blown directed energy deposition (DED) has been used in multiple industries, such as aerospace, automotive, and medical device. However, a lack of fundamental understanding remains for this process, and many opportunities for alloy development and implementation can be identified. A high-throughput, in situ DED system capable of multi-layer builds that can address these issues is presented here. Implications of layer heights and energy density are investigated through an extensive process parameter sweep, showcasing the power of a high-throughput setup while also discussing multi-layer interactions.