HIGH SPEED LASER BASED ADDITIVE MANUFACTURING AND REFURBISHMENT

摘要

Modern additive manufacturing (AM) traces back to the mid 1980s with the advent of stereolithography. In the late1980s and early 1990s a plethora of AMs process and systems appeared. Over the ensuing twenty years, the researchcommunity has applied these processes and process variations in novel ways to attack a wide variety of research andmanufacturing problems in a diverse number of technical areas. Laser Additive Manufacturing (LAM) is anemerging manufacturing technology that lends itself to the development of processes and components for uniqueceramic, alloy, and light metal materials like Titanium. This innovative technology is being used successfully forresearch and development as well as the refurbishment and production of finished goods for the aerospace andmedical industries. In South Africa, research in this area commenced in 2002, and following the establishment of thenecessary expertise and infrastructure, participation in large R&D programmes like FANTASIA (Flexible And nearNet-shape generaTive mAnufacturing chainS and repair technIques for complex-shaped Aero-engine parts)followed. This has lead to the development of industry directed manufacturing and refurbishment facilities. Thispresentation will deal with the above as well as the work currently being done at the CSIR National LaserCentre(NLC) and Aerosud on new concepts and systems that can significantly increase the speed at which Titaniumcomponents can be manufactured for industry.