Laser hot wire additive deposition head with omni-directional build path

An integrated laser hotwire additive deposition head, the deposition head comprising:

• a structural frame;
• a laser process sub-system, including a laser focusing device, mounted within the frame and configured to deliver a single beam path laser beam in a longitudinally-oriented direction toward a substrate or a part to be additively manufactured;
• and
• a contact tube mounted within the frame and configured to accept a consumable filler wire from an external wire feeding device and guide the consumable filler wire toward the substrate or the part at a first angle which can be adjusted over a range of 1° to 30° with respect to the longitudinally-oriented direction,
• wherein the deposition head is configured to have the consumable filler wire approach the contact tube at the first angle and exit the contact tube at a second angle of 1 to 5 degrees from the longitudinally-oriented direction over the range of the first angle, allowing the deposition head to be moved omni-directionally with respect to the substrate or the part, under guidance of a motion control system, to additively manufacture the part without having to:
• angularly change an orientation of the single beam path laser beam from the longitudinally-oriented direction, or
• rotate the deposition head.