Controlled Metal Build Up (CMB): Fast manufacture of high strength tools of steel

The Controlled Metal Build Up (CMB) technology developed at Fraunhofer IPT enables a fast production of steel molds using a combination of laser deposition welding and high speed cutting integrated into one machine. Additionally, also repair or modification of serial molds becomes possible with this approach, as both the welding and the cutting are techniques known from serial mold making. This article describes idea and approach of CMB as well as some results of the current work.