Together with its predecessors, Directed Energy Deposition (DED) has advanced the fully automated laser machine deposition process in metal 3D printing. While DED uses laser and electron beam systems as energy sources to melt substrate material, sophisticated software controls to deposit material in a 3D fashion on top of the melted substrate in an automated fashion. DED allows equipment to be refurbished. Since DED machine designs are laser 3D printed, and refurbished equipment is Expensive, the DED machines provide the balance needed in the era of rapidly changing technology.