Miniature directed energy deposition system

• Subject Area: Production Technology
• Term: Funded in 2024
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 547094966

A miniature directed energy deposition system is being applied for to develop materials for additive manufacturing. This system is to be integrated as a central element in the reference laboratory for powder-based materials development. An essential first step in the development of new materials for additive manufacturing is the processing of very small quantities of powder blends to investigate microstructural properties such as composition-dependent phase formation. For the development of new materials for powder-based additive manufacturing processes, the ability to produce very small quantities of powder blends and to process them into solid test specimens is therefore indispensable. One focus of the research of the Chair of Materials for Additive Manufacturing is the development of highly complex high-temperature alloys based on intermetallic and Ni-based alloy systems with high proportions of different alloying elements. Due to the high cooling rates and the influence of intrinsic heat treatment as a result of the layered structure in additive manufacturing, materials produced in this way typically exist in states of disequilibrium not represented by phase diagrams and in some cases exhibit special precipitation kinetics. Another focus is the development of materials with self-produced nanoadditives, which can be used to modify the properties of materials in a variety of ways. The possibility of investigating alloy compositions at the University of Wuppertal with very small quantities and thus systematically on a large scale allows comprehensive new scientific knowledge to be gained about composition-property correlations; this is particularly important against the background of the goal of being able to set property profiles in a targeted manner, since these often depend on the smallest elementary proportions. By adding a miniature directed energy deposition system, the fundamental research and development of new materials under extensive variation can be significantly extended and thus a substantial deepening of the understanding of composition-dependent phase formation under the special thermophysical conditions during additive manufacturing can be achieved. The equipment applied for thus occupies a key position for the materials science and manufacturing technology research spectrum of the Chair.

• DFG Programme: Major Research Instrumentation
• Major Instrumentation: Miniatur-Laserauftragschweißanlage
• Instrumentation Group: 5740 Laser in der Fertigung
• Applicant Institution: Bergische Universität Wuppertal
• Leader: Professor Dr. Bilal Gökce