The technology produces high quality 3D parts with few voids at high speed, employing a laser wire directed-energy deposition (DED) method, which is an additive-manufacturing process that uses focused thermal energy to fuse materials as they are deposited. Mitsubishi Electric believes that its new technology will raise productivity in a wide range of applications, such as the ‘near-net’ shaping of aircraft and automobile parts and build-up repairs.
Shape accuracy is said to be 60% more precise, compared to conventional consecutive forming technology. Oxidation, a problem with the conventional technology, can be reduced by more than 20%, compared to the conventional technology, because the high temperature area is limited to a narrow spot forming area. And complex shapes can also be formed by using special CAM processes compatible with dot-forming technology.
A three-dimensional metal shaping machine incorporating the new technology was exhibited for reference at JIMTOF2018, held at the Tokyo Big Sight exhibition complex at the beginning of this month. Mitsubishi Electric expects to launch a commercial version during the fiscal year ending in March 2021.
