Abstract: A process control system and a method for process control of a solid-state additive manufacturing system capable of performing various additive processes, such as joining, additive manufacturing, coating, repair and others, are disclosed. The process control system is capable of simultaneous measuring, monitoring and controlling multiple process variables, viz. material temperature, actuator down force, tool force (or torque), tool position, tool angular and transverse velocity, spindle torque (angular velocity), filler flow rate, filler composition, track width, inert gas flow rate and others. A feeding system for continuous supply of filler material to the solid-state additive manufacturing system is also disclosed. The filler material can be in a form of a powder, granules, briquettes, beads, flakes, wires, rods, films, scrap pieces, sheets, blocks or their combinations.

Abstract: A process control system and a method for process control of a solid-state additive manufacturing system capable of performing various additive processes, such as joining, additive manufacturing, coating, repair and others, are disclosed. The process control system is capable of simultaneous measuring, monitoring and controlling multiple process variables, viz. material temperature, actuator down force, tool force (or torque), tool position, tool angular and transverse velocity, spindle torque (angular velocity), filler flow rate, filler composition, track width, inert gas flow rate and others. A feeding system for continuous supply of filler material to the solid-state additive manufacturing system is also disclosed. The filler material can be in a form of a powder, granules, briquettes, beads, flakes, wires, rods, films, scrap pieces, sheets, blocks or their combinations.

Abstract: An accessory device used in combination with a solid-state additive manufacturing system is described. In some configurations, the accessory device can be used in combination with an additive manufacturing system, such as a solid-state additive manufacturing system, to enable printing of large-scale and complex objects, where the objects are much larger than those printed with existing solid-state manufacturing systems. The disclosed accessory device used in conjunction with the a solid-state additive manufacturing system is capable of manufacturing non-hollow (solid), partially-hollow or completely-hollow objects via different methods.

Abstract: Solid-state additive and subtractive manufacturing processes, completely or partially performed by a solid-state manufacturing system, are disclosed. Solid-state deposition processes of different materials for printing 3D parts, coating, joining or repair are included as examples. Subtractive processing steps, such as machining, drilling, surface grooving, surface activation and others are discussed as well. In addition, other processes performed by other means are mentioned in making the final parts.

Abstract: Solid-state additive manufacturing processes for joining dissimilar materials and parts are described. Processes include feeding a first material through a hollow tool of a solid-state additive manufacturing machine to contact a second material, generating deformation of the materials by applying normal, shear and/or frictional forces using a rotating shoulder of the tool such that the materials are in a malleable and/or visco-elastic state in an interface region, and mixing and joining the materials in that region. The joining can include interlocks of various shapes in the interface region. One or multiple taggants can be included in deposited material and/or layers, which taggants respond when triggered by specific external stimulus, such as becoming visible upon subjecting to light of a particular wavelength, heating, electric field, and so on. Some taggants are capable of multiple levels of security effects which can be seen by the naked eye or by using special detectors/readers.

Abstract: A process control system and a method for process control of a solid-state additive manufacturing system capable of performing various additive processes, such as joining, additive manufacturing, coating, repair and others, are disclosed. The process control system is capable of simultaneous measuring, monitoring and controlling multiple process variables, viz. material temperature, actuator down force, tool force (or torque), tool position, tool angular and transverse velocity, spindle torque (angular velocity), filler flow rate, filler composition, track width, inert gas flow rate and others. A feeding system for continuous supply of filler material to the solid-state additive manufacturing system is also disclosed. The filler material can be in a form of a powder, granules, briquettes, beads, flakes, wires, rods, films, scrap pieces, sheets, blocks or their combinations.