DRDO-IIT Hyderabad Unveils Large Area Additive Manufacturing System

India’s defense and aerospace manufacturing sectors have received a significant boost with the development of a Large Area Additive Manufacturing (LAAM) system at the DRDO-Industry-Academia Centre of Excellence (DIA-CoE) at IIT Hyderabad. The innovative LAAM system, a collaboration between IIT Hyderabad, DRDO’s Defence Research & Development Laboratory (DRDL), and various industry partners, is set to revolutionize the way large components, particularly for the aerospace and defense sectors, are fabricated. By enabling the large-scale production of metal parts through additive manufacturing, this achievement paves the way for India’s future growth in advanced manufacturing technology.

Key Features

Technological Breakthroughs

• The LAAM System is based on Powder-based Directed Energy Deposition (DED) technology, which uses laser and blown-powder techniques to fabricate metal components.
• This system is capable of producing large-sized components—a milestone achievement for India’s additive manufacturing capabilities.

Large Build Volume

• The LAAM system’s build volume is 1 meter x 1 meter x 3 meters, making it one of the largest metal additive manufacturing machines in the country.
• Such a large build volume allows for the production of large-scale components, such as rocket parts and structural aerospace components, which traditionally would have been challenging to fabricate using conventional methods.

Power Based Directed Energy Deposition (DED) Technology

• The system utilizes Laser and Blown-Powder-based DED technology, where the powder is melted using a high-powered laser and deposited layer by layer to form the desired structure.
• The process is highly accurate and capable of producing complex geometries that are essential in aerospace and defense industries.

Dual Heads for Thermal Balancing and Speed

• A key feature of the LAAM system is its use of dual heads, which are designed for thermal balancing and to increase the deposition speed of the metal components.
• The use of dual heads ensures uniform heat distribution during the printing process, reducing the chances of thermal distortion and enhancing the overall quality of the parts produced.

Large Scale Rocket Components

• The LAAM system has already made a mark by successfully fabricating a component that is 1 meter tall. This milestone is crucial for expanding the potential of additive manufacturing to large-scale aerospace components that previously would have been manufactured using traditional methods.

Indigenous Design and Development

• The machine was designed and developed indigenously in India, showcasing the country’s growing expertise in high-end manufacturing technologies and its ability to create self-reliant manufacturing solutions.
• The system’s development highlights India’s strategic focus on advancing indigenous defense manufacturing technologies, ensuring that crucial defense components can be manufactured locally and efficiently.

Collaborative Effort

• This breakthrough is the result of a collaborative effort between IIT Hyderabad, the Defence Research & Development Organisation (DRDO), and industry partners. The collaboration brings together academic expertise, research, and industry know-how to drive innovation in the manufacturing sector.
• IIT Hyderabad brings its strong research capabilities in advanced manufacturing, contributing to the design and development of cutting-edge technologies.
  DRDO’s Defence Research & Development Laboratory (DRDL), with its focus on defense technology, provides the domain expertise needed for the application of the LAAM system in aerospace and defense sectors, including rocket components.

Significance for India’s Manufacturing and Defense Sectors

• Self-Reliance in Defense Manufacturing
• Fostering Innovation in Advanced Manufacturing
• Growth of Additive Manufacturing in India
• Job Creation and Skill Development

Future Prospects and Expansion

• The successful development of the LAAM System marks just the beginning of a broader vision for the future of additive manufacturing in India. The collaboration between IIT Hyderabad and DRDO will continue to evolve, with plans for:
• Phase II Expansion: The second phase will see the integration of AI and blockchain technologies, enabling better quality control, faster production speeds, and the ability to track and authenticate components with ease.
• Global Leadership: India aims to position itself as a global leader in additive manufacturing, leveraging its growing expertise and capability to produce large-scale metal parts for the aerospace and defense sectors.