A brief overview of key issues in layered thermal processing is given. Incremental sintering
and layered fusion ofpowder and molten droplets are discussed. The criteria for remelting the solid
substrate are derivedfrom a one dimensional heat transfer model. Temperature gradients which
occur during solidification and subsequent cooling. are responsible for the build up of internal
stresses which can be estimated through establishing an elastic beam model. The difficulties as well
as opportunities regarding the generation of multi-layer multi-material structures are also described
in this article.Mechanical Engineerin
