Multi-material processing by LENS{trademark}
- Sandia National Labs., Albuquerque, NM (United States)
- Sandia National Labs., Livermore, CA (United States)
During the past few years, solid freeform fabrication has evolved into direct fabrication of metallic components using computer aided design (CAD) solid models. Laser Engineered Net Shaping (LENS{trademark}) is one such technique being developed at Sandia to fabricate high strength, near net shape metallic components. In the past two years a variety of components have been fabricated using LENS{trademark} for applications ranging from prototype parts to injection mold tooling. To advance direct fabrication capabilities, a process must be able to accommodate a wide range of materials, including alloys and composites. This is important for tailoring certain physical properties critical to component performance. Examples include graded deposition for matching coefficient of thermal expansion between dissimilar materials, layered fabrication for novel mechanical properties, and new alloy design where elemental constituents and/or alloys are blended to create new materials. In this paper, the authors will discuss the development of precise powder feeding capabilities for the LENS{trademark} process to fabricate graded or layered material parts. They also present preliminary results from chemical and microstructural analysis.
- Research Organization:
- Sandia National Labs., Albuquerque, NM (United States)
- Sponsoring Organization:
- USDOE Office of Financial Management and Controller, Washington, DC (United States)
- DOE Contract Number:
- AC04-94AL85000
- OSTI ID:
- 541908
- Report Number(s):
- SAND--97-1496C; CONF-970888--; ON: DE98000188; BR: YN0100000
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
Similar Records
Using the Laser Engineered Net Shaping (LENS{trademark}) process to produce complex components from a CAD solid model
Free form fabrication of metallic components using laser engineered net shaping (LENS{trademark})