In contrast to powder bed technologies, the metallic materials can be fed into the laser spot as a powder through a nozzle or as a wire. By moving the laser head and/or the part, intricate 3D geometries can be realized. In addition, LMD can be used to build on parts manufactured by conventional manufacturing technologies. By using multiple powder/wire feeders, different materials can be deposited at the same time, allowing for building multi-material parts or gradient structures. Other terms for this technology are Direct Metal Deposition (DMD) or Directed Energy Deposition (DED).