Hybrid manufacturing of engineering test samples using Direct energy deposition (DED) 3D Printing

We have recently started working with undergraduate engineering students to create dogbone samples for tensile testing and SEM microscopy analysis using direct energy deposition (DED) 3d printing and CNC milling, utilising our hybrid machining capabilities. These samples are half stainless steel, and half mild steel and intend to test the strength of the bond between the two materials at different stepovers (distance between the beads when printing).   

This work has been undertaken by Mike White, one of our research technicians for students Paramveer Singh and Andrew Tjan and their supervisor Zak Abdallah. To use both materials in a print, we have created a custom slicer using Grasshopper for Rhino 3D which enables us to have finer control over the parameters. This will allow us to explore creative uses of this technology moving forward.