Metal Additive Manufacturing Laboratory

The Metal Additive Manufacturing Laboratory at NTNU Trondheim provides laboratory infrastructure for research, education, and collaboration in metal additive manufacturing. The laboratory forms part of NTNU’s manufacturing research environment within the Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering (MTP) and supports experimental and applied research across multiple metal AM process routes and research groups. 

Serving as a focal point for metal AM activities in Trondheim, the laboratory integrates process development, post-processing, testing, and characterization through coordinated use of specialized laboratories and workshops at NTNU Trondheim. Key research areas supported by the laboratory include:  

Metal additive manufacturing process development and control, with emphasis on powder bed-based and deposition-based processes, thermal management, process stability, and repeatability under research-relevant conditions. 

Process–microstructure–property relationships, examining the influence of processing conditions, thermal histories, and intrinsic defects on microstructure evolution, printing quality, and resulting mechanical and functional properties. 

Post-processing and surface integrity, focusing on the influence of heat treatment, machining, and surface finishing on microstructure, residual stresses, surface condition, and component performance. 

Structural integrity and durability of additively manufactured components, including fatigue behaviour, damage mechanisms, and performance under complex loading and environmental conditions. 

Design strategies for metal additive manufacturing, addressing geometry, manufacturability, and performance-driven design that account for AM-specific constraints and opportunities. 

Metal additive manufacturing processes and laboratory infrastructure

The metal additive manufacturing facilities primarily support powder bed-based and deposition-based processes. Laser Powder Bed Fusion (PBF-LB) is a core process within the metal AM activities at NTNU Trondheim. Industrial-scale PBF-LB systems include an EOS M290-2 equipped with dual lasers and a Concept Laser M2. The EOS system is additionally equipped with a build-plate heating module with reduced build volume, which delivers pre-heating temperatures above 550°C. 

Directed Energy Deposition (DED) processes are addressed through close integration with the department’s robotics infrastructure. Robotic wire-based deposition based on DED-Arc supports research on large-scale metal deposition, process control, and hybrid manufacturing approaches.  

In addition to these processes, metal material extrusion–based additive manufacturing is addressed in the Material Extrusion Additive Manufacturing (MEAM) Laboratory.  

Post-processing, testing, and characterization

Metal AM research at NTNU Trondheim is supported by coordinated access to post-processing, manufacturing, testing, and inspection infrastructure across several laboratories and workshops within MTP.

Post-processing and manufacturing support include surface treatment, component separation, and machining. Sandblasting, shot peening, wire electrical discharge machining, and conventional metal cutting are routinely used for AM-related work, particularly for specimen preparation and post-build finishing. 

Mechanical performance and durability are addressed through advanced testing infrastructure provided by dedicated facilities within the department’s fatigue laboratory. Capabilities include uniaxial and multiaxial fatigue testing, environmental testing over a wide temperature range (-100 up to 1400°C), and a range of in-situ monitoring techniques such as digital image correlation, high-speed imaging, and acoustic emission for detailed investigation of damage and failure mechanisms in additively manufactured materials and components. 

Metrology and inspection capabilities are provided through dedicated metrology facilities. Surface topography measurements, superficial 3D laser scanning, and X-ray computed tomography are used for dimensional verification, defect analysis, and correlation between internal structure and performance. An in-situ X-ray CT system with mechanical loading capability supports time-resolved studies of deformation and damage evolution. 

Powder-related research is supported through dedicated powder laboratory facilities for investigation of powder production, handling, and characterization, and their influence on metal AM process behaviour. 

Mazemap