Optimization of Wire Arc Additive Manufacturing (WAAM) Process for the Production of Mechanical Components Using a CNC Machine
Abstract
:1. Introduction
2. Materials and Methods
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- Yield strength of 380 N/mm2 (depending on shielding gas);
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- Tensile strength of 490 N/mm2 (depending on shielding gas).
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- The final part was produced with 2 passes/layer with a gap between layers of 4 mm;
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- Amperage of 130 A;
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- 15 L/min gas flow.
- Welding source: Sincosald Nova Plus 500 e inverter with Feeder 4R NSP wire feeder.
- Shielding gas used: Argon 85% + CO2 15% mixture (Corgon 18-Linde).
- Yaskawa robot model MH 24—for welding gun operation.
- Yaskawa positioning device model DK 250—capacity of 2500 kg used to fix and rotate the substrate material.
- Protection, control, and robot control panel and positioning device.
2.1. Residual Stresses and Strains
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- The efficiency of the process for a single piece was only 45%. From a productive point of view, there were apparently massive losses. Nonetheless, the inefficiency of the process can be significantly diminished if two components were produced in parallel or by implementing an efficient cooling system.
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- Deposition rate: it was necessary to perform 4 seams/layer instead of 2. If two parts had been produced in parallel, the amperage (Is) could have been higher because there would have been enough cooling time between the deposits.
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- The maximum temperature of the deposited layer, i.e., 300 °C, before the start of the welding/deposition of the consecutive layer proved to be correct because, following the controls carried out, the deformation of the substrate material was less than 0.5 mm—measured at the inner diameter of the tubular substrate blank [25].
2.2. Preparation of the Piece for Turning
2.2.1. Cutting
2.2.2. Turning
2.2.3. Blasting and Preparing the Part for 3D Scanning
2.2.4. Shaping the Piece
2.2.5. Correction of the Part
3. Results and Examination
3.1. Visual Control
3.2. Dimensional Checks
3.3. Hardness Control
3.4. Metallographic Attack
3.5. Microscopic Examination—Interpretation
3.6. Substrate/Basic Material Area 1
3.7. Economic Calculation
4. Manufacturing Costs Using WAAM Materials
4.1. Raw Material Costs Using the Classic CNC Cutting Process
4.2. WAAM Total Cost Comparison—CNC Cutting
5. Conclusions
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- Regarding the economic aspect—the WAAM process is not recommended for the construction of parts with a simple geometry, because the classical manufacturing processes are much better optimized and adapted in this respect.
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- Regarding the efficiency of the WAAM process in the case of the product presented in this paper, for a single workpiece, it was only 45%, and from a production point of view, the difference was represented as losses. The inefficiency of the process can be significantly diminished if two parts were produced in parallel or by implementing an efficient cooling system.
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- In the case of deposition rate for the product developed in this study case: it was necessary to perform four layers instead of two. If two parts had been produced in parallel, the welding current could have been higher because there would have been enough cooling time between the deposits
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- In terms of stresses and deformations, the situation resulted from parameters, and the maximum underpass temperature of the deposited layer, i.e., 300 °C, proved to be correct because following the controls carried out, the deformation of the substrate material was less than 0.5 mm—measured at the inner diameter of the tubular substrate blank.
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- Regarding the resolution for the product developed in this study case, the quality of the surfaces of the parts obtained by WAAM was not very high, as further processing was required, but the quantity of material deposited in excess was good compared to the other advantages that this process brings.
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- In terms of slicing, there are several pieces of software on the market that provides the interface between the CAD model and the robot’s operating program, but due to the geometric complexity of the parts, the diversity of materials, and the numerous final uses of the finished products, there are real difficulties in correctly programming welding cycles that may differ from layer to layer within the same part.
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- Studying the possibility of producing the flange by executing only two weld seams per layer instead of the four current seams as well.
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- Studying the impact on the mechanical properties of the part.
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- Using a forced cooling system with cooled air at low temperatures (−20 °C, −30 °C) and studying the effects of forced cooling on the mechanical properties of the part.
Author Contributions
Funding
Institutional Review Board Statement
Informed Consent Statement
Data Availability Statement
Acknowledgments
Conflicts of Interest
References
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Technological Parameters | Value |
---|---|
Polarity | CC+ |
Amperage Is (A) | 125 |
Ua operation voltage (V) | 21.8 |
Rate of welding (m/min) | 5.4 |
Gas flow Ar85%-CO215% (L/min) | 15 |
Medium linear energy (J/cm) | 3096 |
Length of the free end (mm) | 9 |
Positioning rotational speed (°/s) | 4.93 |
Nr.crt. | Test 1 (HB) | Test 2 (HB) | Test 3 (HB) | Test 4 (HB) | Test 5 (HB) | Average (HB) |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Zone 1 | 155 | 152 | 155 | 154 | 152 | 153 |
Zone 2 | 126 | 127 | 129 | 130 | 132 | 128 |
Mechanical Properties | Value |
---|---|
Charge | S355J0 |
Rm (N/mm2) (SR EN 10025-2) | 510–680 |
ReH (N/mm2) (SR EN 10025-2) | 355 |
HB (manufacturer) | 154–208 |
HB (zone 1) | 153 |
HB (zone 2) | 128 |
ReH of solid wire (N/mm2)—from manufacturer | 380 |
Rm of solid wire (N/mm2)—from manufacturer | 490 |
Basic Material | Before Processing | After Processing |
---|---|---|
Length (mm) | 60.0 | 57.5 |
External diameter (mm) | 113.0 | 113 |
Internal diameter (mm) | 98 | 98 |
Density (gr/cm3) | 7.8 | 7.8 |
Surface (mm2) | 2485.8 | 2485.8 |
Volume (cm3) | 1491.47 | 1429.33 |
Layer weight (gr) | 1163.35 | 1114.97 |
Piece weight | 4185 | 2861 |
Material weight of filler | 3021.65 | 1746.13 |
Quantity of material removed after grinding (gr) | 1276 | |
Percentage of material use (%) | 57.79% | |
Percentage of material loss after processing (%) | 42.21% | |
Electrode wire price G 42 M 21 3Sil (Euro/kg) | 3.52 | |
Cost wire electrode/piece (Euro) | 10.64 | 6.15 |
Loss of filler material/piece | −4.49 | |
material price S355J0 (Euro/kg) | 1.45 | |
Cost of material/piece (Euro) | 1.69 | 1.62 |
Loss of material/piece | −0.07 | |
Total material losses (Euro) | −4.56 |
Characteristics | Semi-Manufactured Article | Finished Article |
---|---|---|
Length (mm) | 70.0 | 57.5 |
External diameter (mm) | 200.0 | 113 |
Interior diameter (mm) | 0 | 98 |
Density (gr/cm3) | 7.8 | 7.8 |
Surface (mm2) | 31,415.9 | 2485.8 |
Volume (cm3) | 21,991.15 | 1429.33 |
Weight (gr) | 17.153 | 1114.97 |
Amount of material removed after milling (gr) | 14,292 | |
Percentage of material use (%) | 16.68% | |
Percentage of material loss after processing (%) | 83.32% | |
Prefabricated price (Euro/kg) | 1.45 | |
Semi manufactured cost/piece (Euro) | 24.87 | 4.15 |
Loss of filler material (Euro/piece) | −20.72 |
Phase | Operation | Ø (mm) | Length (mm) | Times (hh:mm:ss) | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Clamping 1 | Face turning | Rough turn | 200 | 3.23 | 0:12:45 |
Turn finish | 200 | 0.76 | 0:15:45 | ||
outer diameter cutting | Rough turn | 195.762 | 7 | 0:00:33 | |
Turn finish | 195 | 7 | 0:00:54 | ||
Rough turn | 170.762 | 7 | 0:01:39 | ||
Turn finish | 170 | 7 | 0:00:47 | ||
Rough turn | 113.762 | 43.5 | 0:24:28 | ||
Turn finish | 113 | 43.5 | 0:03:13 | ||
Inside diameter machining | Drilling | 30 | 80 | 0:07:10 | |
Reaming | 98.76 | 80 | 0:20:41 | ||
Finish ream | 98 | 80 | 0:04:32 | ||
Clamping 2 | Face turning | Rough turn | 200 | 3.23 | 0:12:45 |
Turn finish | 200 | 0.76 | 0:15:45 | ||
Clamping 3 | Hole execution | Front drilling 1 Ø 10.5 × 3 | 10.5 | 7 | 0:15:00 |
Clamping 4 | Hole execution | Front drilling 1 Ø 8.5 × 4 | 8.5 | 7 | 0:15:00 |
Effective time to complete the piece: | 2:30:57 |
Comparative Evaluation of Manufacturing Costs WAAM vs. CNC | |||
---|---|---|---|
Cost | Process WAAM Non-Optimized | Process WAAM Optimized | Classic Process (CNC) |
Cost of raw material/material (Euro) | 12.32 | 12.32 | 24.87 |
Total production time (min) with WAAM * non-optimized | 202 | 100 | 151 |
Total machining time after WAAM | 60 | 60 | 0 |
Hourly rate (Euro) | 30 | 30 | 45 |
Manpower cost (Euro/hour) | 131 | 80 | 113 |
Total production cost (Euro) | 143 | 92 | 138 |
Comparative Evaluation of Manufacturing Costs WAAM vs. CNC | |||
---|---|---|---|
Cost | Process WAAM Non-Optimized | Process WAAM Optimized | Classic Process (CNC) |
Cost of raw material/material (Euro) | 376.65 | 376.65 | 1543.78 |
Total production time (min) with WAAM * non-optimized | 202 | 100 | 151 |
Total machining time after WAAM | 60 | 60 | 0 |
Hourly rate (Euro) | 30 | 30 | 45 |
Manpower cost (Euro/hour) | 131 | 80 | 113 |
Total production cost (Euro) | 508 | 457 | 1657 |
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Feier, A.; Buta, I.; Florica, C.; Blaga, L. Optimization of Wire Arc Additive Manufacturing (WAAM) Process for the Production of Mechanical Components Using a CNC Machine. Materials 2023, 16, 17. https://doi.org/10.3390/ma16010017
Feier A, Buta I, Florica C, Blaga L. Optimization of Wire Arc Additive Manufacturing (WAAM) Process for the Production of Mechanical Components Using a CNC Machine. Materials. 2023; 16(1):17. https://doi.org/10.3390/ma16010017
Chicago/Turabian StyleFeier, Anamaria, Ioan Buta, Cosmina Florica, and Lucian Blaga. 2023. "Optimization of Wire Arc Additive Manufacturing (WAAM) Process for the Production of Mechanical Components Using a CNC Machine" Materials 16, no. 1: 17. https://doi.org/10.3390/ma16010017
APA StyleFeier, A., Buta, I., Florica, C., & Blaga, L. (2023). Optimization of Wire Arc Additive Manufacturing (WAAM) Process for the Production of Mechanical Components Using a CNC Machine. Materials, 16(1), 17. https://doi.org/10.3390/ma16010017