LAUSR

The manufacture of hybrid components, especially by combining the capabilities of Additive Manufacturing (AM) processes with cost-effective complementary technologies, has attracted the attention of industry and researchers because they can offer flexibility and cost advantages in producing small series of customisable products. The paper reports an investigation into the mechanical behaviour of hybrid components produced by combining the capabilities of Metal Injection Moulding (MIM) with the laser-based Powder Bed Fusion (PBF) process to produce small series of hybrid components. In particular, the MIM process is employed to fabricate relatively lower cost preforms in higher quantities while the PBF technology is deployed to build on them sections that can be personalised, customised or functionalised to meet specific technical requirements. The research investigates systematically the mechanical properties and the performance of the MIM/PBF interfaces in such hybrid components. The results are discussed, and conclusions are made about the mechanical performance of such hybrid components produced in batches and also about the production efficiency of the investigated hybrid manufacturing (HM) route.