GEFERTEC has introduced a new wire-arc additive manufacturing (WAAM) system that has been developed specifically to meet the requirements of titanium processing.
The arcTitan platform combines a fully enclosed inert gas atmosphere with a plasma-based WAAM process, and is said to achieve 'stable and reproducible process control.'
Because of the high strength-to-weight ratio of titanium and its excellent corrosion resistance, the metal is one of the preferred engineering materials for industrial applications. Yet, its sensitivity to contamination during processing presents challenges during the manufacturing workflow.
GEFERTEC believes it has addressed these concerns with a fully enclosed build chamber and the use of inert gas. Meanwhile, the plasma-based welding process is said to enable precise control of heat input and supports consistent part quality. Combined, GEFERTEC believes the arcTitan represents a manufacturing system in which process conditions can be precisely controlled throughout the entire build.
"The greatest challenge in the additive manufacturing of titanium is ensuring reproducible process conditions. With the arcTitan, we have therefore developed a system in which the build chamber, welding process and peripheral equipment have all been designed specifically for this material," said Johannes Zuckschwerdt, Managing Director of GEFERTEC.
All relevant system components – from gas management and sensor technology to wire feeding and process parameter control – have been tailored to the specific requirements of titanium. GEFERTEC says the machine achieves an oxygen level of 10 to 15 ppm inside the build chamber, providing the conditions required for controlled manufacturing.
Other features of the arcTitan include its 2000 × 700 × 1000 mm build envelope, deposition rate of up to 3 kg/h, and its inherent modularity, which allows the company to customise and configure systems to the end-user's needs.
GEFERTEC expects the arcTitan to be of interest to companies working in the aerospace and energy sectors.
