Sunset Over Directed Energy Deposition

Description

2019 Honorable Mention, Northwestern Scientific Images Contest. Directed Energy Deposition (DED) is a metal3Dprinting process. In this process, small metal powders are blown through a nozzle onto a block of metal and melted with a high-powered laser to form new, solid metal. A full object is made by creating many layers of new metal from the powders. DED is very popular for making complex or customizable parts, such as car engine blocks or hip implants; however, very small pores are commonly left in the as-built part. These pores can cause catastrophic failures, so it is important to understand how they form. This is a highspeed image of DED taken at the Advanced Photon Source at Argonne National Labs. The powerful x-ray beam used to capture the image can show what is happening inside the metal as it is melted, such as pore formation or how powder is incorporated into the meltpool.

Abstract

This image originally appeared as part of Northwestern's Scientific Images Contest. The contest and subsequent exhibitions are organized by Science in Society, the University's research center for science education and public engagement. Further information and opportunities to participate are available on their website.

Files

Additional details