Hybrid metal additive/subtractive machine tools and applications

Additive manufacturing creates parts by depositing a preform, typically layer by layer. Subtractive manufacturing involves removing material from a preform to create parts. Hybrid machine tools combine both additive and subtractive processes in the same workspace. They can be used to create parts that meet functional tolerance and surface finish requirements, or to create features that are difficult to produce using additive or subtractive processes alone. This paper describes hybrid metal additive/subtractive machine tools. It covers design considerations, sensors and controls, process management, programming and software, and the impact on the design space. It also identifies future research challenges.