​aser Deposition Technology (LDT) is a process in which metal powder is injected into the focused beam of a high-power laser under tightly controlled atmospheric conditions. The focused laser beam melts the surface of the target material and generates a small molten pool of base material. Powder delivered into this same spot is absorbed into the melt pool, thus generating a deposit that may range from 0.125 to 1 mm thick and 1 to 4 mm wide. The resulting deposits may then be used to build or repair metal parts for a variety of different applications.

There are three main areas where LDT can be used in manufacturing processes; it can be used in repair of worn components, especially in any type of mechanical equipment with moving parts. This process is known as Laser Repair Technology (LRT). Also, this technique can be used in the application of cladding materials, which known as Laser Cladding Technology (LCT). LCT is a process that repairs surfaces on parts by first machining down the worn surface and building it back up by depositing cladding material in thin layers to restore the worn surface. Finally, this technique can be used in performing near-net-shape freeform builds, which known as Laser Freeform Manufacturing Technology (LFMT). This technique starts with a CAD drawing of a part, from this electronic drawing, a tool path file is built. The laser deposition system then builds the part layer by layer. LFMT can build complex shapes, prototyping and manufacturing some parts in far less time than any other technique.

Explaining Video for the process:

​In this technique, instead of printing an object layer-by-layer, which leads to incredibly slow speeds as well as a weak overall structure similar to that of shale, this new process harnesses light as a way to cure the resin, and oxygen as an inhibiting agent. The continuous process begins with a pool of liquid photopolymer resin. Part of the pool bottom is transparent to ultraviolet light and oxygen(the window). An ultraviolet light beam shines through the window, illuminating the precise cross-section of the object. The light causes the resin to solidify. The object rises slowly enough to allow resin to flow under and maintain contact with the bottom of the object. An oxygen-permeable membrane lies below the resin, which creates a “dead zone” (persistent liquid interface) preventing the resin from attaching to the window (photopolymerization is inhibited between the window and the polymerizer). The machine will then produce a series of cross sectional images using ultraviolet light in a fashion similar to playing a movie. By bringing oxygen into the equation, a traditionally mechanical technique for 3D printing suddenly becomes a tunable photochemical process which rapidly decreases production times (25 to 100 times), removes the layering effect.

Explaining Video for the process: