By: Dr. Bhaskar Dutta
POM Group Inc.
POM’s patented close loop Direct Metal Deposition (DMD) process allows precision metal deposition using a laser and a coaxial powder delivery system. Besides this, DMD systems include DMDCAM, a comprehensive 6-axis CAM software solution to generate deposition paths for contour, surface and volume geometry, adopting different deposition path strategies required in Additive Manufacturing processes. The end benefits are enormous, and yields near net shape parts directly from CAD data with controlled heat input, minimal distortion and fine microstructure. However, recent advances in the DMD technology has pushed this envelop further. A superior close loop feedback system has been designed and developed that monitors and controls melt pool geometry as well as temperature simultaneously. The new control will be particularly beneficial for cladding applications, such as wear and/or corrosion protection solutions that often involve dissimilar metal deposition. The new feedback control has been successfully tested and integrated with commercial DMD systems. These new sensors coupled with POM’s process diagnostic software will enable researchers and engineers a new capability for research and development on additive manufacturing, as well as allow manufacturing industry a more robust control on the process.