Why Use Solid-State Additive Manufacturing?

Most metal additive manufacturing (AM) methods involve sintering powder with an energy source like a laser or an electron beam, or a welding-like process that melts powder or wire to build up parts. While these methods are suitable for all sorts of applications from medical implants to structural aerospace parts, the need to melt and resolidify the metal creates stresses. That stress can cause metal parts to deform, break free from their support structures or even warp the build platform. 

In a solid-state AM process, the material doesn’t melt. Instead, metal is built up using other mechanisms like friction, pressure and velocity. Common types of solid-state AM include friction stir welding, cold spray and sheet lamination. There’s even a method powered by compressed shop air. These processes involve little to no heat, which means little to no residual stress created in the part.

But there are other reasons to use solid-state AM on top of that stress-free advantage. Here are just a few that we’ve covered over at Additive Manufacturing: 

To blend a variety of materials. 

Meld’s 3D printing process is based on friction stir welding applied within a machine tool. The technique uses friction and pressure to transform solid metal stock into final parts without melting. That beginning stock can be metal powder, solid bar or even chips from machining. 

The combination of a stress-free process and flexible material choice provides an interesting opportunity: the chance to blend dissimilar metals. A Meld machine can be configured to easily switch between different feedstock, allowing users to alternate materials and create combinations that would not be possible otherwise. 

To connect existing parts to the Internet of Things (IoT).

One unique advantage of a solid-state process is that the technique makes it possible to embed electronics in otherwise solid metal parts. Tri-D Dynamics is taking advantage of this concept with its robot-driven 3D printing process based on cold spray. 

The company’s hope is not necessarily to build complete parts using cold spray. Instead, the founders see opportunities to use this process in combination with machining. A electronic device could be added to a milled slot, for instance, and then encased using cold spray. The technique could be a useful way to add sensors and IoT connectivity to down-hole oil extraction equipment and other items used in harsh environments. 

To build brand new smart devices. 

Fabrisonic is pursuing an aim similar to Tri-D Dynamics, using an entirely different process: ultrasonic additive manufacturing (UAM). This method is a type of sheet lamination involving thin sheets or coils of metal foil that are vibrated together with an ultrasonic welder. The vibrations remove the oxide layer from the metal sheets, allowing them to bond together at temperatures less than 200°F. 

Fabrisonic’s UAM process can be used to build internal channels, embed motors, and combine aluminum and copper within the same part. The company has even developed a “smart” build plate for powder-bed fusion metal 3D printing. An embedded fiber-optic sensor running within the plate allows users to track the temperature, strain and, yes, even the stress within the build. Solid-state additive manufacturing could just be the next advance for AM processes based on melting.