Purpose: This paper aims to investigate the extent to which traditional manufacturers are equipped and interested in participating in a hybrid manufacturing system which integrates traditional processes such as machining and grinding with additive manufacturing (AM) processes.Design/methodology/approach: A survey was conducted among traditional metal manufacturers to collect data and evaluate the ability of these manufacturers to provide hybrid – AM post-processing services in addition to their standard product offering (e.g. mass production).Findings: The original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) surveyed have machine availability and an interest in adopting hybrid manufacturing to additionally offer post-processing services. Low volume parts which would be suitable for hybrid manufacturing are generally more profitable. Access to metal AM, process engineering time, tooling requirements and the need for quality control tools were equally identified as the major challenges for OEM participation in this evolving supply chain.Practical implications: OEMs can use this research to determine if hybrid manufacturing is a possible fit for their industry using existing machine tools.Originality/value: Survey data offer an unique insight into the readiness of metal manufacturers who play an integral role in the evolving hybrid supply chain ecosystem required for post-processing of AM metal parts. This study also suggests that establishing metal AM centers around OEMs as a shared resource to produce near-net AM parts would be beneficial.

Multi-Material Laser Powder Bed Fusion (MM-LPBF) offers a novel approach for fabricating high-resolution components with both spatially tailored material properties and design by leveraging selective powder deposition (SPD) in conventional LPBF processing. This study analyzes the effect of build orientation as a contributing factor to material compatibility, process-induced defects, and interfacial formation mechanisms to elucidate the process-structure-property framework for MM-LPBF. New MM-LPBF capabilities are demonstrated through a complex gyroid structure (904L stainless steel and bronze) for unique MM-LPBF signatures (e.g., melt pool characteristics, grain morphology, defects, and mechanical properties). Fracture mechanisms in MM-LPBF are investigated through multi-scale domain techniques, including flexural testing supported by digital image correlation (DIC), finite element analysis (FEA), and intermittent micro-CT. Findings from this study demonstrate the current technological opportunities and challenges in the adoption of MM-LPBF for a wide range of applications such as thermo-fluidic surfaces, solid-state energy storage, and biodegradable implants.