Large Area Additive Manufacturing Technology

February 3, 2025

Recent advancements in Large Area Additive Manufacturing (LAAM) have emerged from a collaborative initiative involving IIT Hyderabad, the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), and various industry partners. This effort has resulted in the development of a state-of-the-art LAAM system, which is set to revolutionise the production of metal components, particularly in the aerospace sector.

LAAM Technology

Large Area Additive Manufacturing is a technique that allows for the rapid production of large-scale metal components.
The LAAM system employs Powder-based Directed Energy Deposition technology, which utilises lasers and blown-powder methods to create intricate parts, including complex rocket components, strengthening India’s defense and aerospace capabilities.
This technology is vital for industries that require high precision and efficiency in manufacturing processes.

LAAM System Development

The LAAM System, developed at the DRDO-Industry-Academia Centre of Excellence (DIA-CoE) at IIT Hyderabad, marks a major achievement in India’s additive manufacturing capabilities.
It was developed through a collaboration between IIT Hyderabad, DRDO’s Defence Research & Development Laboratory (DRDL), and industry partners.

Key Features of the LAAM System

The LAAM system developed at IIT Hyderabad boasts a substantial build volume of 1m x 1m x 3m.
This makes it one of the largest metal additive manufacturing machines in India.
The system features dual heads that facilitate thermal balancing and enhance production speed.
Such capabilities enable the fabrication of larger components, which are critical for applications in aerospace and defence.

Features of LAAM System:

Large Build Volume: The LAAM system is one of India’s largest metal additive manufacturing machines, with a build volume of 1m x 1m x 3m.
Laser and Blown-Powder Technology: The system uses advanced Laser and Blown-Powder-based Direct Energy Deposition to create large, precise metal parts.
Dual Heads for Enhanced Efficiency: The dual-head design helps balance thermal distribution, speeding up the manufacturing process, which is crucial for large-scale production of complex components.

Notable Achievement

A major milestone was reached when a one-meter-high component was successfully fabricated using the LAAM system, proving the system’s ability to produce large-scale parts. This accomplishment marks step forward in the production of large-sized components using additive manufacturing techniques. The ability to create such components is expected to open new avenues for innovation and efficiency in various sectors.

Broader Applications

The LAAM technology has potential uses beyond defense, such as in aerospace, automotive, and heavy engineering industries, paving the way for the future of large-scale, high-performance manufacturing in India.

Impact on Defence and Aerospace Industries

The advancements in LAAM technology are particularly beneficial for the defence and aerospace sectors. The ability to produce large metal parts quickly and efficiently can lead to reduced production times and costs. This innovation is expected to enhance the capabilities of the Indian defence manufacturing sector, allowing for more robust and agile production processes.

Future Prospects

The development of the LAAM system at IIT Hyderabad signals a promising future for additive manufacturing in India. With continued support from DRDO and industry partners, there is potential for further advancements in this technology. This could lead to increased self-reliance in defence manufacturing and the possibility of exporting advanced manufacturing capabilities.

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