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Purpose This paper aims to assess the combined effect of the Cold Metal Transfer (CMT) advanced process and of a thermal management technique (near immersion active cooling [NIAC]) on the macro and microstructure of Al wall-like preforms built by wire arc additive manufacturing (WAAM). As specific objective, it sought to provide information on the effects of the electrode-positive/electrode-negative (EP/EN) parameter in the CMT advanced process fundamental characteristics. Design/methodology/approach Initially, bead-on-plate deposits were produced with different EP/EN ratios, still keeping the same deposition rate, and the outcomes on the electrical signal traces and bead formation were analyzed. In a second stage, the EP/EN parameter and the layer edge to water distance (LEWD) parameter from the NIAC technique were systematically varied and the resultant macro and microstructures compared with those formed by applying natural cooling. Findings Constraints of EP/EN setting range were uncovered and discussed. The use of the NIAC technique favors the formation of finer grains. For a given EP/EN value, a variation in the NIAC intensity (LEWD value) showed marginal effect on grain size. When the EP/EN parameter effect is isolated, i.e. for a given LEWD setting, it was observed that an increase in the EP/EN level favors coarser grains. Originality/value Both the EP/EN parameter and the use of an active cooling technique (NIAC) might be used, even in combination, as effective tools for achieving proper macro and microstructure in WAAM of thin wall builds.

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Resumo Uma das novas abordagens em soldagem é a aplicação de técnicas de alimentação pulsada do arame de adição para TIG e MIG/MAG. Entretanto, tais técnicas necessitam de alimentadores de arame e/ou tochas específicos, o que acaba limitando sua implementação pelo custo destes equipamentos. Assim, o presente trabalho tem como objetivo introduzir e avaliar de forma exploratória técnicas para pulsar a alimentação do arame aplicadas de forma independentemente de alimentadores e/ou tochas especiais. São apresentadas uma técnica com acionamento eletromecânico e outra com eletromagnético. Foram avaliados os efeitos da amplitude e frequência da alimentação pulsada sobre a formação de cordões de solda sobre chapa e sobre os sinais elétricos correspondentes. Para TIG, percebeu-se que a pulsação da alimentação tem potencial para modificar o cordão e tornar mais regular a transferência de material para a poça. Já para MIG/MAG, verificou-se que a pulsação da alimentação pode interferir no processo, sendo capaz de modificar uma transferência metálica globular irregular para regular, reduzindo a corrente média e afetando a formação do cordão. A pulsação da alimentação do arame, mesmo de forma independente de alimentadores e/ou tochas especiais, é então capaz de interferir nos processos, abrindo um campo de desenvolvimento de tecnologias de soldagem derivativas.

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This work aims to propose and assess a methodology for parameterization for WAAM of thin walls based on a previously existing working envelope built for a basic material (parameter transferability). This work also aimed at investigating whether the working envelope approach can be used to optimize the parameterization for a target wall width in terms of arc energy (which governs microstructure and microhardness), surface finish and active deposition time. To reach the main objective, first, a reference working envelope was developed through a series of deposited walls with a plain C-Mn steel wire. Wire feed speed (WFS) and travel speed (TS) were treated as independent variables, while the geometric wall features were considered dependent variables. After validation, three combinations of WFS and TS capable of achieving the same effective wall width were deposited with a 2.25Cr-1Mo steel wire. To evaluate the parameter transferability between the two materials, the geometric features of these walls were measured and compared with the predicted values. The results showed minor deviations between the predicted and measured values. As a result, WAAM parameter selection for another material showed to be feasible after only fewer experiments (shorter time and lower resource consumption) from a working envelope previously developed. The usage of the approach to optimize parameterization was also demonstrated. For this case, lower values of WFS and TS were capable of achieving a better surface finish. However, higher WFS and TS are advantageous in terms of production time. As long as the same wall width is maintained, variations in WFS and TS do not significantly affect microstructure and microhardness.

Derivative welding processes are in many cases capable of altering phenomena that determine fundamental aspects of weld bead formation. Some of these evolutions act over the wire feed dynamics. However, in this scenario, the effects of the wire feed pulsation on the weld bead formation governing factors have not been fully explored yet. Therefore, this work aimed at examining how a wire feed pulsation approach affects the droplet transfer in gas metal arc welding and how its interaction with the molten pool defines the weld bead penetration. Bead-on-plate weldments were produced by varying the wire feed pulsation frequency, yet keeping the same levels of arc energy and wire feed speed, with the power source operating in constant voltage and current modes. To assess the droplet transfer behavior, high-speed imaging was used. The geometry of the weld beads was compared in terms of fusion penetration. The results showed that an increase in the wire feed pulsation frequency intensifies the detachment frequency of the droplets, being possible to accomplish a stable metal transfer with them straightly projected toward the weld pool, which contributed to a centralized-increased penetration profile. Based on a descriptive model, it was demonstrated that the increase in droplet momentum or kinetic energy, due to the wire feed pulsation, was not enough to justify the penetration enhancement. It was concluded that the wire feed dynamics can also stimulate surface tension variations in the weld pool and therefore disrupt the behavior of its mass and heat convection, supporting fusion penetration.

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