Laser-Based Metal Additive Manufacturing: Technology, Global Scenario and Our Experiences

Additive manufacturing (AM) brought a paradigm shift in the manufacturing sector by introducing “feature-based design and manufacturing” and it is one of the pillars of the fourth industrial revolution or Industry 4.0. The technology is bringing a transformation in the industrial manufacturing through “metal additive manufacturing” (MAM), which allows the fabrication of metallic components having intricate/complex shapes and designs that were not perceived previously through conventional manufacturing route. Laser, a tool of power and precision is the most commonly used energy source for MAM and thus the term “laser additive manufacturing” (LAM) is coined. Considering the potential and the various freedoms offered by the technology, a dedicated research and development programme in the area of LAM was started in the year 2003 at Raja Ramanna Centre for Advanced Technology (RRCAT). This review article includes a discussion about the different LAM technologies along with its advantages and limitations. It also includes the global and Indian scenario of the technology, along with discussions on the contributions of the technology towards Industry 4.0. It will also discuss the details of the LAM systems developed at RRCAT and some of the recent research works and engineering components developed at LAM lab, RRCAT. This article will serve as reference material for beginners to appreciate this novel technology and as a reference document for researchers in the field.