Repair & MRO | Hybrid Manufacturing | Multi-Material

Aeronautics & Space

Gicam technology can repair and manufacture critical aerospace components using laser-based direct energy deposition (DED): turbine blades, titanium housings, landing gear structures, and rocket engines. It enables precise, multi-material deposition with the fine metallurgical control required by civil and military MRO.
Manufacturing & Prototyping

Multi-material combustion chambers and nozzles

Complex geometries, stringent thermal requirements, and combined materials: a natural playground for multi-material deposition.
These parts combine complex geometries, stringent thermal requirements, and—often—combinations of different materials depending on the area—for example, copper for thermal conductivity and a refractory alloy for mechanical strength. Thanks to its patented rotating nozzle, Gicam can deposit layers of different materials depending on the part’s functional zones, even on complex geometries that are difficult for a conventional fixed nozzle to access.

DED can also be used to repair eroded or cracked areas without having to remanufacture the entire component—a significant advantage for parts that are costly and time-consuming to fully remanufacture. This type of application is particularly relevant in the aerospace sector, specifically for rocket engines, where rapid development cycles highlight the flexibility of DED: iterating on a nozzle geometry without having to start over with dedicated casting tooling represents a significant time savings.

The technology’s geometric flexibility is a major advantage when dealing with the complex shapes of these components, where conventional processes often require costly design compromises.
Multi-material coating → Copper for thermal performance, superalloy for mechanical strength.
Repair without complete remanufacturing → Eroded or cracked areas treated locally.
Multi-material combustion chambers and nozzles
Photo: NASA - Wikimedia Commons — License — modified image

FAQ

Can the DED deposit multiple materials on a single part?

Yes, thanks to Gicam’s patented rotating nozzle—which is natively capable of handling two materials—that can adjust the composition being deposited based on the part’s functional area.

Can DED be used in the space sector?