Analysis of laser control effects for direct metal deposition process

As a promising and novel manufacturing technology, laser aided direct metal deposition (DMD) process produces near-net-shape functional metal parts directly from 3-D CAD models by repeating laser cladding layer by layer. The key of the build-up mechanism is the effective control of powder delivery and laser power to be irradiated into the melt-pool. A feedback control system using two sets of optical height sensors is designed for monitoring the melt-pool and real-time control of deposition dimension. With the feedback height control system, the dimensions of part can be controlled within designed tolerance maintaining real time control of each layer thickness. Clad nugget shapes reveal that the feedback control can affect the nugget size and morphology of microstructure. The pore/void level can be controlled by utilizing pulsed-mode laser and proper design of deposition tool-path. With the present configuration of the control system, it is believed that more innovation of the DMD process is possible to the deposition of layers in 3-D slice.