Application of multidirectional robotic wire arc additive manufacturing process for the fabrication of complex metallic parts

Authors

Lei Yuan, University of WollongongFollow
Donghong Ding
Zengxi Stephen Pan, University of WollongongFollow
Ziping Yu, University of WollongongFollow
Bintao Wu, University of Wollongong
Stephen van Duin, University of WollongongFollow
Hui Jun Li, University of WollongongFollow
Weihua Li, University of WollongongFollow

RIS ID

146024

Publication Details

Yuan, L., Ding, D., Pan, Z., Yu, Z., Wu, B., Van Duin, S., Li, H. & Li, W. (2020). Application of multidirectional robotic wire arc additive manufacturing process for the fabrication of complex metallic parts. IEEE Transactions on Industrial Informatics, 16 (1), 454-464.

Abstract

© 2005-2012 IEEE. Robotic wire arc additive manufacturing (WAAM) for the fabrication of metallic parts is garnering interest due to its advantages of low capital investment, high deposition rates, and good material properties. Although many achievements have been made, the build direction of WAAM remains confined to the vertical-up direction, requiring additional supporting structure to be deposited while fabricating metallic parts with overhanging features. In this article, a novel multidirectional WAAM process, using robotic gas metal arc welding, to additively manufacture metal components in multiple directions is presented. Several novel modules, including positional bead modeling, multidirection slicing, and deposition process optimization of the deposition process, are highlights of this article. In addition, the performance of the proposed multidirectional WAAM strategy is evaluated by the successful deposition of a sample workpiece with complex geometrical features. The proposed multidirectional WAAM process would significantly reduce the manufacturing time and cost.