3D printing, also known as additive manufacturing, can use different types of materials. Directed energy deposition (DED) uses a focused energy beam, like a laser, to melt and fuse metal particles layer by layer, building three dimensional objects. NIST is working to study the DED process by using high-speed (7000 frames/s) Schlieren imaging, as seen in the video. This visualization shows a nozzle directing metal powder particles and a room-temperature flow of shield gas toward a surface. A lase