AISI 316L
Stainless steel with high corrosion resistance, good high-temperature durability and excellent machinability. Ideal for aerospace, automotive, marine and medical applications.
Direct Energy Deposition (DED) is an advanced Additive Manufacturing technology
It uses a high-energy heat source, such as a laser or electron beam, to melt and deposit metal powder or wire onto a substrate. This process enables the creation of complex, high-strength metal components and the repair or enhancement of existing parts. DED is widely used in aerospace, automotive, and industrial applications for producing durable, high-performance parts.
DED 3D printing use cases
-
Repair of turbine blades and components
-
Rebuilding worn edges, seats, and surfaces
-
Adding flanges, ribs, and connections
-
Wear-resistant coatings for industrial components
-
Restoration of shafts and rotating components
-
Metal preforms for aerospace components
-
Large-format near-net-shape parts
-
Hybrid components with subsequent CNC machining
Materials for DED 3D printing
Steels
H13
Hot-work tool steel with excellent thermal fatigue resistance and good mechanical strength. Commonly used for die-casting moulds, extrusion tooling and components subjected to thermal stress.
17-4PH
Precipitation-hardening stainless steel with high strength, good toughness and corrosion resistance. Widely used in aerospace, medical and industrial applications.
Nickel Alloys
Inconel 625
Nickel-based superalloy with excellent corrosion resistance, mechanical strength and thermal stability. Used in extreme environments such as turbines, heat exchangers and offshore structures.
Inconel 718
High-strength nickel alloy with excellent fatigue resistance and high-temperature performance up to 700°C. Commonly used in gas turbines, aerospace engines and power generation systems.
Our team of experts is at your disposal
Our engineers support you in material selection, optimising the part for metal 3D printing, and defining the required post-processes and inspections.
Comparison with other technologies
| Technology | Max. size | Min. detail size | Min. wall thickness | Tolerance | Description |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DMLS | 500×280×340 mm | 0.6-0.8 mm | 0.22 mm | ±0.25 (≤15mm); ±0.5 (>15mm) | Similar to Selective Laser Sintering (SLS), but uses metal powders to produce high-strength, intricate metal parts, suitable for functional prototypes and end-use components in aerospace, medical and automotive. |
| SLS Plastic | 680×380×540 mm | 0.8 mm | 0.7-1.3 mm | ±0.3% (±0.3mm) | Uses a laser to fuse powdered materials layer by layer, ideal for durable, complex parts without support structures. Widely used in aerospace, automotive and medical. |
| SLA Plastic | 1350×750×500 mm | 0.2-0.5 mm | 1-3 mm | ±0.2% (min. 0.2 mm) | Uses a UV laser to cure liquid resin into solid layers, ideal for highly detailed, smooth, intricate parts. Widely used for detailed prototypes and complex designs in jewellery and dentistry. |
| MJF Plastic | 380×284×380 mm | 0.5 mm | 0.3-0.5 mm | ±0.3% (±0.2 mm) | Uses multiple jets to apply fusing agents onto powder, which is then fused by heating elements. Delivers high-resolution functional parts with short lead times, often used in aerospace, automotive and consumer goods. |
| Polyjet Plastic | 490×380×200 mm | 1.2-2 mm | 1 mm | ±0.1% | Jets liquid photopolymer resin and cures it layer by layer with UV light, enabling highly detailed, multi-material parts with different properties. Popular for prototyping and colour-rich complex models in medical modelling, consumer goods and electronics. |
| FDM Plastic | 914×690×914 mm | 1.2-1.5 mm | 1.5 mm | ±0.5% (±0.5 mm) | Uses a heated nozzle to extrude thermoplastic filament layer by layer, ideal for durable functional prototypes. Commonly used in manufacturing, automotive and consumer products. |
| DLP Plastic | 510×280×350 mm | 0.5 mm | 1 mm | ±0.30 mm < 100mm; ±0.3% > 100 mm | Uses a digital light projector to cure liquid resin layer by layer, providing fast, precise, high-resolution prints. Commonly used in dentistry, jewellery and high-definition prototypes. |
| Large Scale Plastic | 2500×2500×4000 mm | 3 mm | — | ±5 mm/m | Refers to 3D printing technologies designed to create large objects or structures, such as industrial machine parts or architectural models, with an emphasis on size and structural integrity. |
| DED | 1200×800×600 mm | — | — | — | Uses an energy beam to melt and deposit metal powders or wires, ideal for repairing or adding features to metal parts in aerospace and manufacturing. |
| Binder Jet | 430×310×150 mm | — | — | ±3% | Deposits a binding agent onto a powder bed to form parts, which are then sintered. Useful for producing complex, cost-effective parts, often used in automotive, aerospace, consumer goods and jewellery. |
Technology
DMLS
- Max. size
- 500×280×340 mm
- Min. detail size
- 0.6-0.8 mm
- Min. wall thickness
- 0.22 mm
- Tolerance
- ±0.25 (≤15mm); ±0.5 (>15mm)
Description
Similar to Selective Laser Sintering (SLS), but uses metal powders to produce high-strength, intricate metal parts, suitable for functional prototypes and end-use components in aerospace, medical and automotive.
Technology
SLS
Plastic- Max. size
- 680×380×540 mm
- Min. detail size
- 0.8 mm
- Min. wall thickness
- 0.7-1.3 mm
- Tolerance
- ±0.3% (±0.3mm)
Description
Uses a laser to fuse powdered materials layer by layer, ideal for durable, complex parts without support structures. Widely used in aerospace, automotive and medical.
Technology
SLA
Plastic- Max. size
- 1350×750×500 mm
- Min. detail size
- 0.2-0.5 mm
- Min. wall thickness
- 1-3 mm
- Tolerance
- ±0.2% (min. 0.2 mm)
Description
Uses a UV laser to cure liquid resin into solid layers, ideal for highly detailed, smooth, intricate parts. Widely used for detailed prototypes and complex designs in jewellery and dentistry.
Technology
MJF
Plastic- Max. size
- 380×284×380 mm
- Min. detail size
- 0.5 mm
- Min. wall thickness
- 0.3-0.5 mm
- Tolerance
- ±0.3% (±0.2 mm)
Description
Uses multiple jets to apply fusing agents onto powder, which is then fused by heating elements. Delivers high-resolution functional parts with short lead times, often used in aerospace, automotive and consumer goods.
Technology
Polyjet
Plastic- Max. size
- 490×380×200 mm
- Min. detail size
- 1.2-2 mm
- Min. wall thickness
- 1 mm
- Tolerance
- ±0.1%
Description
Jets liquid photopolymer resin and cures it layer by layer with UV light, enabling highly detailed, multi-material parts with different properties. Popular for prototyping and colour-rich complex models in medical modelling, consumer goods and electronics.
Technology
FDM
Plastic- Max. size
- 914×690×914 mm
- Min. detail size
- 1.2-1.5 mm
- Min. wall thickness
- 1.5 mm
- Tolerance
- ±0.5% (±0.5 mm)
Description
Uses a heated nozzle to extrude thermoplastic filament layer by layer, ideal for durable functional prototypes. Commonly used in manufacturing, automotive and consumer products.
Technology
DLP
Plastic- Max. size
- 510×280×350 mm
- Min. detail size
- 0.5 mm
- Min. wall thickness
- 1 mm
- Tolerance
- ±0.30 mm < 100mm; ±0.3% > 100 mm
Description
Uses a digital light projector to cure liquid resin layer by layer, providing fast, precise, high-resolution prints. Commonly used in dentistry, jewellery and high-definition prototypes.
Technology
Large Scale
Plastic- Max. size
- 2500×2500×4000 mm
- Min. detail size
- 3 mm
- Min. wall thickness
- —
- Tolerance
- ±5 mm/m
Description
Refers to 3D printing technologies designed to create large objects or structures, such as industrial machine parts or architectural models, with an emphasis on size and structural integrity.
Technology
DED
- Max. size
- 1200×800×600 mm
- Min. detail size
- —
- Min. wall thickness
- —
- Tolerance
- —
Description
Uses an energy beam to melt and deposit metal powders or wires, ideal for repairing or adding features to metal parts in aerospace and manufacturing.
Technology
Binder Jet
- Max. size
- 430×310×150 mm
- Min. detail size
- —
- Min. wall thickness
- —
- Tolerance
- ±3%
Description
Deposits a binding agent onto a powder bed to form parts, which are then sintered. Useful for producing complex, cost-effective parts, often used in automotive, aerospace, consumer goods and jewellery.
DED technology pros and cons
Advantages
- Produces high-strength metal components.
- Ideal for repairing and enhancing existing metal parts.
- Allows for functionally graded materials and multi-material builds.
- Minimal material waste compared to traditional machining.
Points to consider
- Requires post-processing for optimal surface finish.
- Limited geometric complexity compared to other AM processes.
DED 3D printing FAQ
What is DED 3D printing mainly used for?
DED (Directed Energy Deposition) is a metal Additive Manufacturing technology that deposits material, in powder or wire form, directly onto the target area using an energy source. It is particularly suitable for adding material to existing components, rebuilding worn areas, modifying geometries, and producing large metal parts. It is therefore used for repair, remanufacturing, and industrial production, where producing an entirely new component is not always the most efficient solution. MadeInAdd assesses DED according to the component, material, and subsequent machining required to achieve the final geometry and finish.
What is the difference between DED and DMLS 3D printing?
DED and DMLS are both metal 3D printing technologies, but they have different characteristics and applications. DMLS (Direct Metal Laser Sintering) uses a powder bed and generally enables greater detail and more complex geometries, especially for smaller components. DED deposits material directly onto the component or substrate and is particularly suitable for large parts, adding material, and repairing existing components. The choice depends on geometry, dimensions, accuracy, material, and post-processing requirements. MadeInAdd selects the technology according to the final function of the component and production requirements.
What component sizes can be achieved with DED 3D printing?
In MadeInAdd configurations, DED 3D printing reaches an indicative maximum build volume of 1,200 × 800 × 600 mm. The technology is particularly suitable for large components and for adding material locally to existing parts, including applications beyond the typical build volumes of many powder-bed technologies. For DED, minimum feature size, minimum wall thickness, and tolerance values must be defined for each individual project, taking the machine, material, deposition strategy, and subsequent machining into account. The design should therefore consider the characteristics of the process and required post-processing from the outset.
Turn your project into reality
Upload your 3D file, 2D drawing or photo and get your quote.
Instant quoteAll uploads are protected and confidential.