ULTRASONICALLY ASSISTED WIRE ADDITIVE MANUFACTURING PROCESS AND APPARATUS
Methods, apparatus and systems for additive manufacturing are provided. Such may include an additive manufacturing material supply, and an energy source that heats the additive manufacturing material supply, forming a melt pool; and an ultrasonic-vibrating member positioned at a distance behind the energy source, such that the ultrasonic-vibrating member is configured to contact the melt pool on a trailing side of the energy source and provide ultrasonic acoustic cavitation and streaming effects to the additive manufacturing process.