Cold metal transfer-based wire arc additive manufacturing

Abstract

Cold metal transfer-based additive manufacturing technique is a new promising approach based on wire-feed AM. It is gaining more popularity than its contemporary additive manufacturing processes for metal additive manufacturing due to its capability of economically producing large-size components with relatively high deposition rates and lower heat input. This article introduces cold metal transfer-based wire arc additive manufacturing (CMT-WAAM), starting with an overview of CMT-WAAM and the detailed mechanism of the cold metal transfer (CMT) process and its selection preference over the other variants of WAAM. A critical review of the microstructure and mechanical properties of various metals and alloys fabricated through CMT-WAAM technique has been reported. Research indicates an exciting result as the mechanical properties of CMT-WAAM-fabricated materials, such as titanium, steels, aluminum alloys, and nickel-based alloys, have been found relatively comparable to wrought materials and superior to as-cast materials. The advantages of CMT-WAAM have piqued the interest of many industrial experts and researchers for further developments in this technique

thus, the recent advances performed in this sector have been summarized in the last section of this manuscript. This article suggests that CMT-WAAM can be a viable alternative for high-quality manufacturing and offers a vision for the future of this technology. © 2023, The Author(s), under exclusive licence to The Brazilian Society of Mechanical Sciences and Engineering.