Abstract

This study investigates the deformation produced in the weld-based prototype and to optimize the welding parameters to minimize this deformation. Weld-based prototyping is a method to produce form-fit and near-net-shape or net shape prototypes. However, the large amount of heat exposure for the substrate plate and for previously built layers is one of the limitations of weld based prototyping. This causes high temperature gradient which results in deformation, residual stresses, warpage and poor surface quality. In this study a part is made by using welding by incremental layer buildup method. This yielded anisotropic material properties in the part with the non-homogeneous structure and porosity. In present study above mentioned problems were minimized by proper selection and optimizing the deposition parameters such as inter-pass cooling time, heat sink size, deposition speed, applying mechanical constraints and preheating. For analysis of present weld based prototype, experimental approach is adopted. In such developments, the phenomenon of deformation is very crucial to control. In this study a focus has been made on investigation of deformation produced and the parameters effecting this deformation.

Keywords:

Rapid prototyping, weld-based prototyping, welding deformation,

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Competing interests

The authors have no competing interests.

Open Access Policy

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Copyright

The authors have no competing interests.