Optimization of WAAM deposition patterns for T-crossing features

Among emerging additive manufacturing technologies for metallic components, WAAM (Wire and Arc Additive Manufacturing) is one of the most promising. It is an arc based technology characterized by high productivity, high energy efficiency and low raw material cost. Anyway, it has some drawbacks limiting its diffusion in the industry. One is the open issue about the layer deposition strategy that must be manually optimized in order to reduce as possible the residual stress and strains, efficiently matching the geometrical characteristics of the component to build and assure a constant height for each layer. This work deals with the definition of deposition paths for WAAM. The choice of a path must be carried out as a compromise between productivity and material usage efficiency. In the present paper, the process to select an optimized strategy for the manufacturing of T-crossing features will be shown. (C) 2016 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V.