Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Lehrstuhl für Photonische Technologien

The Additive Manufacturing working group is primarily concerned with laser-based additive manufacturing of metallic materials. This includes, in particular, laser beam melting in powder beds and laser powder cladding. The focus of our research activities is on the investigation of laser-material interaction in order to substantiate the interactions in microstructure formation and mechanical properties. The main topics from the materials point of view are aluminum, iron, and titanium-based alloys as well as in-situ alloy formation or the development of novel material systems such as high-entropy alloys.

The LPT, headed by Prof. Dr.-Ing. Michael Schmidt, is concerned with the development and improvement of processes in which light is used as a tool. The main topics are subdivided into the application of lasers in medical technology, the sensory acquisition of process data as well as the subsequent control of the process, ultrashort pulse laser technologies for micro- and nanomaterial processing, simulation of laser-based manufacturing processes as well as additive manufacturing.

Heat exchangers fabricated by means of selective laser beam melting (Image credits: LPT/Kurt Fuchs)

• Basic research
• Process development and material qualification
• Industrial contract research
• Knowledge transfer into industrial applications
• Training in additive manufacturing
• Characterization of material and powder properties for additive manufacturing

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• Laser beam melting in powder bed
• Laser powder cladding
• System technology development
• Process development
• Process monitoring
• Process simulation
• In-situ alloy formation

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