Cold Metal Transfer (CMT) Based Wire and Arc Additive Manufacture (WAAM) System

• Published in: Surface investigation, x-ray, synchrotron and neutron techniques Vol. 12; no. 6; pp. 1278 - 1284
• Main Authors: Xizhang Chen, Su, Chuanchu, Wang, Yangfan, Siddiquee, Arshad Noor, Sergey, Konovalov, Jayalakshmi, S., Singh, R. Arvind
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Moscow Pleiades Publishing 01-11-2018; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Aluminum base alloys; Chemistry and Materials Science; Computer simulation; Forming; Industrial robots; Materials Science; Mathematical models; Near net shaping; Process controls; Process parameters; Robots; Simulation; Software; Surfaces and Interfaces; Thin Films; Three dimensional models; Wall thickness; Welding machines; Wire; forming stability, surface quality; wire arc additive manufacture; 3D path simulation software; cold metal transfer welding
• ISSN: 1027-4510; 1819-7094
• DOI: 10.1134/S102745101901004X

The forming system of wire and arc additive manufacture (WAAM) based on cold metal transfer (CMT) is a high build rate system for production of near-net shape components layer by layer, which is composed of industrial robot operation system and 3D path simulation software. In the 3D path simulation software, the working layout of the off-line virtual robot is carried for the imported three-dimensional model to screen the model wall thickness, correct process library, set process parameters, slice, layer, plan deposition path, form simulation and upload program to execution system. Among the whole system, the 3D path simulation software provides essential database for process control and an innovative planning path to coordinate industrial robot platform to build parts layer by layer. Furthermore, the experiment is also performed to study the stability of aluminum alloy forming using the WAAM-CMT system by establishing different experimental models and changing process parameters and process modes of industrial robot and Fronius digital welding machine embedded on robot operation platform.