How it works:
A focused heat source (usually a laser or electron beam) melts metal wire or powder as it’s fed through a nozzle and deposited onto the build surface. As seen in the diagram, the process builds the part layer by layer while allowing multi-axis movement for complex or repaired geometries. Material is added only where needed, making the method efficient for large parts and repairs.
Where it’s used:
DED is used in aerospace and energy industries for repairing turbine blades, molds, and tooling components. It’s also suitable for large-scale builds where precision is less important than speed and strength. Thanks to its ability to add material to existing parts, it’s widely adopted for remanufacturing, hybrid machining systems, and research into material gradients.
