Direct energy deposition (DED) is a metal 3D printing process which uses high power laser combined with co-axial powder delivery to manufacture metal layered structure.  Because of its convenience in use and superior quality, DED has gained more and more attention.  Our team have been developing DED technologies and have accumulated experience in the DED machine tool development and its processing technologies.
(1)Machine tool development: 
Integrated control of a 5-axis machine tool, a 3 kW fiber laser, a powder delivery system and a laser head was achieved through the connection of PLC.  Man-machine interface is also developed. 
(2)Processing technology development:
Processing technology for DED process is developed via regression method to optimize the key process parameters such as laser power, powder feed rate, laser scanning speed and machine tool path etc. to obtain the best quality complex parts.

Technologies are developed for high quality DED aerospace and mechanical parts. There are two parts:
(1)Machine tool development is achieved through integrating the control of a 5-axis machine tool and a 3 kW continuous high power fiber laser.  Human-machine interface is also developed.  Powder delivery system and laser head are also considered.  This feature makes this technology easy to be used.
(2)Processing technology development is achieved via optimizing process parameters such as laser power, powder feed rate, laser scanning speed etc. and fabrication path of the process through CAM software to obtain the best quality parts. This technology makes the quality of DED parts excellent.
By integrate these two technologies, DED parts with good quality can be made and cost effective.

Technologies are developed for high quality DED aerospace and mechanical parts.
(1)Machine tool development is achieved through integrating the control of a 5-axis machine tool and a 3 kW continuous high power fiber laser.  Human-machine interface is also developed. 
(2)Processing technology development is achieved via optimizing process parameters such as laser power, powder feed rate, laser scanning speed etc. and fabrication path of the process through CAM to obtain the best quality parts. Optimized Process-structure-properties relationship is available for SUS316 and Inconel 718 materials.
By integrating these two technologies, DED parts with good quality can be made.  DED is suitable for applications such as big material removal process, new material development and complex parts.