LASER HEAD FOR DIRECTIONALLY INDEPENDENT ADDITIVE DEPOSITION OF HOT WIRE

摘要

Embodiments of an integrated laser hot wire deposition head are disclosed. In one embodiment, the deposition head includes a structural frame, a laser process sub-system, a wire feeding device, and a contact tube. The laser process sub-system is mounted within the structural frame to deliver a single beam path laser beam in a longitudinally-oriented direction toward a substrate or a part to be additively manufactured. The wire feeding device and contact tube are mounted within the frame to feed a consumable filler wire toward the substrate or part at an angle with respect to the longitudinally-oriented direction. The deposition head can be moved omni-directionally with respect to the substrate or the part, under the guidance of a motion control system, to additively manufacture the part without having to angularly change an orientation of the single beam path laser beam from the longitudinally-oriented direction or rotate the deposition head.