Direct Energy Deposition

Process description

direct energy deposition is a combination of welding and additive manufacturing technologies. a high power heat source is used to deposit a feed stock directly onto the bed (typically welding it onto a sacrificial print bed). each layer is welded onto the last until the part is fully formed. typically the part must then be cut from the build plate.

ded also has the unique ability's to modify existing metal parts. it simply treats the old part as the print surface, and then any additions are built layer by layer as if printing a typical part.

strengths

• industrial scaling. ded machines are often much larger then other print types allowing massive structures to be created
• part modification ded has the ability to add additional features onto weldable metal parts.

weaknesses

• surface finish although dependent on the feed stocked used, ded has very poor surface finish
• high energy: because the constant melting of metal is required in the process ded uses very high amounts of energy

Technologies

There are a number of specific technologies that can vastly change to capabilities of a printer.