Manufacturing of components of a vehicle using additive layer manufacturing

A method for manufacturing a shell-like structural component for a vehicle using additive layer manufacturing, comprising:

• applying a first material to a region of the shell-like structural component;
• heating the region of the shell-like structural component by a laser beam such that the first material is added to the shell-like structural component;
• and
• cooling the shell-like structural component comprising the first material, such that an internal stress is generated within the shell-like structural component resulting in a bending of the shell-like structural component;
• wherein internal stresses are induced within the shell-like structural component such that a predetermined bending occurs when a certain force or load is applied to the shell-like structural component in a loaded condition;
• and
• wherein additional internal stress is generated within the shell-like structural component by shot-peening and flare-fitting.

A method for manufacturing a shell-like structural component for a vehicle using additive layer manufacturing, the method comprising the steps of:

• performing a multi-direction additive manufacturing process to print a first material on a first surface of the shell-like structural component and to simultaneously print the first material on a second surface of the shell-like structural component, resulting in a layered structure;
• heating regions of the shell-like structural component by a laser beam such that the first material is added to the shell-like structural component;
• and
• cooling the shell-like structural component comprising the first material to generate an internal stress within the shell-like structural component, resulting in a bending of the shell-like structural component in an unloaded condition;
• wherein internal stresses are induced within the shell-like structural component such that a predetermined bending occurs when a certain force or load is applied to the shell-like structural component in a loaded condition.