NOVELTY - A solid freeform fabrication system comprises an energy beam producing mechanism operable to direct an energy beam to a feed point to form a molten puddle of feedstock material; and a controller coupled to control movement of a movement mechanism to advance the molten puddle of presently fed feedstock and rapidly solidify previously fed feedstock.    USE - For producing net or near net shape workpiece (claimed).    ADVANTAGE - The invention enables production of workpiece parts that are fabricated to net shape, have high strength, at a high material deposition rate, in complex shapes that include small part features, e.g. bosses, holes and slots.    DETAILED DESCRIPTION - A solid freeform fabrication system employing layered deposition of feedstock material on a mold to produce a net or near net shape workpiece comprises a mold support; a feed mechanism (18) operable to feed feedstock (20) material to a feed point (28) adjacent the mold; an energy beam producing mechanism (2) operable to direct an energy beam (8) to the feed point to form a molten puddle of feedstock material; a movement mechanism coupled to the mold support and operable to move the feed point relative to the mold; a controller coupled to control movement of the movement mechanism to advance the molten puddle of presently fed feedstock and rapidly solidify previously fed feedstock and to sequentially advance the feed point within a predetermined geometric volume containing at least a portion of the mold to sequentially fuse the feedstock by action of the advancing molten puddle into the near net shape workpiece built-up upon the mold.    An INDEPENDENT CLAIM is also included for a method of solid freeform workpiece fabrication through layered deposition of feedstock material on a mold structure comprising directing an energy beam and feeding feedstock to a feed point adjacent to the mold structure to form a molten puddle; moving the feed point relative to the mold structure to advance the molten puddle of presently fed feedstock and rapidly solidifying previously fed feedstock; and sequentially advancing the feed point within a predetermined geometric volume containing at least a portion of the mold structure to sequentially fuse the feedstock by action of the advancing molten puddle into a near net shape work piece built-up upon the mold structure.    DESCRIPTION OF DRAWING(S) - The figure shows a solid freeform fabrication apparatus.    Energy beam producing mechanism (2)    Cathode (4)    Anode plate (6)    Energy beam (8)    Charged coils or plates (10)    Feed mechanism (18)    Feedstock (20)    Driving rollers (24)    Guide (26)    Feed point (28)    Vacuum pump (30)    Housing (34)    Fixed base (36)    Movable stage (38)    Base plate (40)    Deposited layers (42)