Environmental comparison of MESO-CLAD® process and conventional machining implementing life cycle assessment

CLAD® process (Direct additive laser manufacturing, Construction Laser Additive Directe in French) allows the direct manufacturing of small parts, and especially in case of complex shapes, giving equivalent properties with traditional processes such as conventional machining or casting techniques. Present environmental considerations are very important for updates in legislation or in order to make economic allowances. A specified mechanical Ti6Al4V part is used as a support and SimaPro software allows to perform Life Cycle Assessment. This study suggests that the absence of chips production, which represents up to 80% of the titanium consumption, provides to CLAD® process an unquestionable advantage. This process requires longer times of execution, which increase additional energy consumptions, and the comparison of this process with conventional machining demonstrates that damages to resources and to human health are highly reduced. In both cases a large part of the environmental impacts are due to the powder elaboration. Finally, CLAD® process can add shapes on machined/casted parts and it is possible to consider the manufacture of a mechanical part via a hybrid process.