Methods for Modifying and Enhancing Material Properties of Additive Manufactured Metallic Parts

A device for additive manufacturing of an object, the device comprising:

• a first probe configured to form the object;
• and
• a work-hardening second probe, wherein the work-hardening second probe is an ultrasonic probe, and further wherein the second probe is configured to emit ultrasonic energy to modify a substructure of the object during manufacture;
• wherein the first probe is configured to sinter or melt a portion of a first layer of the object facing the first probe, to a first depth;
• and wherein the second probe is configured to work-harden the at least a portion of the first layer of the object facing the first probe, to a second depth, wherein the second depth is equal to or greater than the first depth.

A method for additive manufacturing of an object, the method comprising the steps of:

• providing a dual-probe additive manufacturing device, the device comprising a first probe configured to form the object and a work-hardening second probe;
• adding, with the first probe, a layer of the object;
• and
• work-hardening, with the second probe, the added layer of the object.