## 1 Introduction
[12] HIPped a cast \(\gamma\)-TiAl sample and were able to refine the microstructure, reduce lamellar spacing to 30-40 nm, and hardness significantly to a point of improved ductility. While this method is successful, it highly costly to implement. AM techniques are being investigated to achieve superior Ti-Al parts, but for this to happen it would mean the current platforms have to be reconfigured or adapted to meet the required Ti-Al process conditions. Adaptation would involve incorporation of heating elements on the platform and systems' surrounding, thermo-kinetics monitoring optics and cameras, and a control software for temperature manipulation, and laser control. Most importantly pre-heating of the powders before deposition will be a necessity. The ability of feeding multiple powders during printing can lead to a decrease in material use and cost-effective manufacturing route while achieving smart functional parts. [PERSON] et al. [4] concluded that laser in situ alloying synthetic approach can lead to 40% of material cost reduction in relation to use of pre-alloyed powder through studying the synthesis of the GE 48-2-2 alloy. [PERSON] et al. [5] reported FGMs of Ti-Al and concluded that hardness could be controlled by changing powder composition using the appropriate CAD model. Notably R&D towards understanding the practical studies of laser in situ alloying and manufacturing could be costly since powder that is generated during developmental studies might not be in equilibrium or mimic any alloy with significant metallurgical use; in which case the powders would have to undergo further powder processing to be used for AM. To avoid excess powders being generated during the developmental studies, we propose that fundamentals studies be preceded with the understanding of mass calibrations where mass balance charts are generated. Standard procedure would include understanding the effect of carrier and shrouding gas flow-rates and feed speed (rotational per minute or rpm) powder mixing, first, and then mixing during laser alloying. This paper looks at using the Optomec LENS machine for studying the synthesis of a ternary alloy containing Ti-Al-Nb. During synthesis, the effects of Nb on the microstructure evolution, dissolution of Al in the \(\gamma\)-rich phase Ti-Al alloy and twinning in the as-built state will be studied, followed with effects of heat-treatment and twinning in the annealed condition(s). TNB/TNM alloys are the Ti-Al alloy system that contain Nb or molybdenum (Mo) and are important to aerospace companies due to their mechanical properties, in particular machinability, and use in high temperature conditions. TNB/TNM alloys have improved ductility, in the cast lamellar state, at room temperature [3]. Ti-Al-Nb has several phases (\(\alpha_{2}\), \(\gamma\), \(\sigma\) and \(\beta\)) that form during synthesis. Typically, the \(\alpha_{2}+\gamma\) phase Ti-Al alloys are used in the compressor and low temperature turbine blades of the jet engines. Therefore, by adding niobium to this stable phase, a \(\gamma\)-TiAl and \(\sigma\)-Nb\({}_{2}\)Al lower temperature microstructure is formed with a possibility of an improved high temperature alloy containing the \(\beta\) phase resulting. According to [PERSON] et al. [13], the \(\sigma\)-Nb\({}_{2}\)Al phase is hard and brittle and cannot promote any material ductility at elevated temperature even when toughened by a ductile second phase. [PERSON] and [PERSON] [14] concluded that oxidation resistant of \(\gamma\)-TiAl alloys can be achieved by adding about 1-10 Nb (at. %). Alloys containing 5-10 Nb (at. %) are desired for high-temperature applications. [PERSON] et al. [15] studied the effects of third element on binary Ti-Al and concluded that by adding large amount of niobium to a stable Ti48 Al (at. %) alloy, one can improve ductility of a gamma (\(\gamma\)) single-phase alloy.