Metal 3D printing with CMT (i.e. cold metal transfer) method is widely studied. CMT is a form of MIG/MAG welding, but unlike typical welding process, CMT generates low heat input which provides major advantages such as a stable arc regardless of surface type and speed, a spatter free metal transfer, and the ability to join different materials such as steel and aluminium. Cavitar’s CAVILUX laser illumination allows you to have unprecedented view of the CMT process which is ideal for analysis and corrective measures. The video on the left shows a CMT process where layers of material are added on top of each other. The video on the right is from a similar process visualized with CAVILUX illumination laser technology. In addition to the clear view of the process itself, the gas flow is also visible due to the application of Schlieren imaging technique.

More about related applications: http://bit.ly/welding_imaging
More about Schlieren imaging: http://bit.ly/schlieren_imaging

The videos were taken at Laser Application Laboratory of Tampere University (former Tampere University of Technology).