Application of WirePlus Arc Additive Manufacture to primary metallic elements

Abstract

Metallic Additive Manufacturing, AM has the potential to provide a cost effective means of manufacturing large structures, thereby eliminating expensive and long lead times associated with forgings. Various enabling technologies are competing for market share of the manufacturability of large products, with each technology having their own advantages and disadvantages. One of the AM processes is Wire+Arc Additive Manufacture, WAAM, which relies on off the shelf welding equipment to provide the necessary heat to melt the feedstock, which is welding wire. WAAM is an innovative manufacturing technique which can directly construct large, fully dense 3D near net shape metallic components. In this process development, wire is fed at a controlled rate into an electric arc, and is melted onto a substrate or the previously deposited layer. The layer by layer manufacturing method of the WAAM process allows for producing a complex component shape with some design autonomy whilst at the same time reducing and optimising overall material consumption. Therefore, WAAM has gained attention because of its potential to reduce material costs and lead times, which are affecting current subtractive manufacturing processes, such as machining from a solid.

Document Details

Document Type
DoD Grant Award
Publication Date
Jan 14, 2022
Source ID
FA95501917037

Entities

People

  • Supriyo Ganguly

Organizations

  • Air Force Office of Scientific Research
  • Cranfield University
  • United States Air Force

Tags

Readers

  • Manufacturing Engineering.
  • Metallurgy
  • Systems Analysis and Design