WAAM3D Releases MINIWAAM Metal Printer

WAAM3D launches a new compact metal 3D printer: MiniWAAM. Sitting alongside the bigger RoboWAAM in WAAM3D’s machines portfolio, MiniWAAM features WAAM3D’s end-effectors, sensing hardware and software. It offers a manufacturing solution for process development, metallurgical characterization, production of mechanical test pieces, exploration of new wires and the testing of new sensors. 

With the launch of the company’s new MiniWAAM platform, the market potential for large-format 3D metal printing and repair in aerospace, defense, oil and gas and research communities has been extended. 

New Compact Platform

Departing from robotic architectures, MiniWAAM features:

• 3-axis overhead CNC system, plus an additional 500 mm rotational table with 60 kg payload
• A working envelope of 800x800x600 mm
• Overall machine dimensions of 2,400 (w) x 2,100 mm (d) x 2,300 mm (h)
• Standalone plug&play installation on shopfloor with full health and safety compliance.

Capabilities

The MiniWAAM system is designed to integrate wire arc additive manufacturing into manufacturing workflow. 

Despite its compact size, MiniWAAM offers hardware capabilities similar to the bigger RoboWAAM solution:

• Real time ShapeTech—WAAM3D’s interferometric sensor that reconstructs the 3D profile of the deposited structure, extracting the layer height value around the component. It gives confidence in the consistency of deposition and in the achievement of key geometrical targets, while printing is in progress.
• Essential WAAM monitoring (voltage, current, travel speed, wire feed speed)
• Double-point temperature measurement capability—leading the deposition to ensure consistent printing conditions; and trailing the deposition for in-process parameters checks
• Two wire feeders are included. Each can be controlled independently in feeding timing and wire feed speeds. With no changes of setup, WAAM engineers can program the feeding of either the same alloy with two wires to increase deposition rates; or the feeding of different wires to produce functionally graded parts or to perform in-situ alloying. 
• Electronic wire positioning for increased process stability
• Process camera for remote melt-pool imaging
• Global shielding for deposition of reactive materials with fully automatic purging, atmosphere maintenance, and evacuation cycles.

Sources: Press materials received from the company and additional information gleaned from the company’s website.