Additive Manufacturing (AM)

Process for creating a three-dimensional object in which material is deposited layer-by-layer under computer control.

In the case of additive manufacturing of metallic materials, two primary processes are used.  The Powder Bed Fusion (PBF) process utilizes a laser beam or electron beam, which is precisely scanned over a pre-deposited layer of powder causing local melting and solidification for each layer.  The PBF process is capable of very good feature resolution and surface quality and in many instances may be considered a net shape manufacturing process.  The Directed Energy Deposition (DED) process uses a laser, electron beam, or electric arc for deposition of powder or wire feedstock which is fed directly into the moving heat source to produce each layer.  The DED process typically uses higher energies for processing than the PBF process, which enables the DED to achieve higher deposition rates but also results in poorer feature resolution and surface finish.  The DED process may be easily scaled to large build volumes, may utilize multiple alloys during deposition, and is considered a near-net shape manufacturing process.

If you are considering AM for enhancing the performance of existing or new product designs, CCAM offers a full range of processing capabilities and engineering expertise to assist and support your decisions in design, process and material selection, and shop-floor integration of AM.  If you are currently utilizing AM, CCAM’s advancements in design-for-additive, process sensing technologies, and AM as a node in the intelligent factory offers you the opportunity to fully utilize AM technology, while also exploiting the digital manufacturing thread.

Expertise

material selection / process development / process sensing / product characterization / factory integration

Focus

integrated modeling tools / powder characterization / sensor instrumentation / process qualification / process reliability