Development and Applications of Laser-Based Additive Manufacturing

Dear Colleagues,

Manufacturing technology is crucial for the advancement of humankind. Therefore, there is an ongoing effort to continuously improve and enhance manufacturing techniques that can facilitate rapid, sustainable, and cost-effective production of a wide array of materials. Amidst this ongoing human endeavour, several breakthroughs have been made in manufacturing technologies. However, none have been as promising and prevalent in recent times as the development of additive manufacturing (AM) technologies.

Additive manufacturing entails the layered deposition of materials and the cohesion of these layers to create intricate parts in a single-step process. Among the most effective methods for joining these successive layers is the utilisation of lasers as targeted heat sources for fusing the layers. Consequently, lasers have emerged as invaluable tools in AM, particularly for metal processing. Additive manufacturing with lasers offers unique advantages, including the ability to create functionally graded parts and achieve tuneable microstructure properties, to name a few.

Due to their numerous advantages, AM techniques find application in nearly every sector and are of particular interest to the aerospace, electronics, and medical fields. Although laser-based AM has undergone extensive investigation in recent years, it still holds significant untapped potential. Additionally, with the development of new materials and advancements in laser systems, there is a growing need for further exploration.

Hence, this Special Issue aims to explore the latest developments and applications of laser-based additive manufacturing.

Prof. Dr. Changjun Chen
Dr. Chaolin Tan
Dr. Ashfaq Khan
Guest Editors

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• lasers
• additive manufacturing
• 3D printing
• materials processing
• selective laser melting
• selective laser sintering
• direct metal deposition
• microstructure