PRODUCT REVIEWS
WAAM3D ’ s new RoboWAAM ® XP
WAAM3D , an innovator in Wire Arc Additive Manufacturing ( WAAM ), launched its new large-format RoboWAAM ® XP fully integrated system at the Formnext exhibition in Frankfurt , Germany , this November .
“ The solution contains Cranfield University ’ s patented Cold-Wire Gas Metal Arc ( CWGMA ) process that enables deposition rates of up to 15kg per hour , without compromising on the quality and precision required for high-performance materials . RoboWAAM ® XP expands the size and mass capabilities of our family of integrated systems and works natively with alloys of iron , aluminium , nickel and copper . It has been under development since 2018 , and under industrial testing over the last two years with trusted partners in the energy , space , marine and mining industries , with impressive results ,” WAAM3D explained .
Featuring a maximum build envelope of 2 x 2 x 2m , and a maximum payload of 2.1 tonnes , the RoboWAAM ® XP fully integrated system is suitable for manufacturing industries that have a requirement for largescale spare parts with a short lead time . Besides the patented CWGMA process , RoboWAAM ® XP ships with MIG , MAG and CMT capabilities provided by Fronius .
“ With its default eight axes of motion , it does not compromise on the geometrical complexity that it achieves , irrespective of the size of the payload ,” confirmed the manufacturer . “ Cranfield University ’ s CWGMA process not only provides a high level of control but also enhances process efficiency by achieving higher deposition rates at the same energy input . The result is a significant boost in productivity through faster process speeds , whilst delivering in terms of quality and precision .”
WAAM3D also offers its WAAMPlanner ® for tool path planning and process parameter allocation and the WAAMCtrl ® for process monitoring and control , as well as data logging and visualisation .
Stewart Williams , one of the company ’ s founders as well as technical director at WAAM3D and a professor at Cranfield University , expanded further : “ The key innovation with CWGMA is the addition of a nonenergised cold wire to a conventional GMA process . Through this novel arrangement , high efficiencies can be obtained by nearly doubling the amount of material deposited for the same energy input . The addition of a non-energised wire greatly stabilises the process , making it suitable for a very broad range of materials . With the unique level of control offered by CWGMA , there are also opportunities to adapt the microstructure to reach the required properties ,” he concluded .
For more information on RoboWAAM ® XP and CWGMA , visit http :// waam3d . com / hardware / robowaam-xp n
www
. waam3d . com
SmartJet Green oxy-hydrogen cutting
To improve performance while decarbonising automated cutting of steel , ESAB has launched new SmartJet Green oxy-hydrogen cutting . When hydrogen burns in combination with oxygen , the main by-product is water , eliminating the carbon dioxide produced by burning acetylene , natural gas or propane . The debut of SmartJet Green featured live demonstrations using a Combirex PRO , ESAB ’ s automated system for oxy-fuel and plasma cutting and bevelling .
“ SmartJet Green hydrogen cutting technology offers faster pre-heat speeds , excellent cut quality , slightly faster cutting speeds and reduced dust generation compared to oxy-acetylene ,” said Steve Zlotnicki , Global Product Manager , Cutting Systems , ESAB .
“ Preliminary cost efficiency calculations indicate that hydrogen costs about 20 % less than acetylene and 30 % less than propane . Because it combines cost , quality and performance benefits , we believe hydrogen cutting will become a preferred process in steel service centres , shipyards , wind tower and other heavy fabrication applications .”
ESAB believes that hydrogen cutting has a
distinct advantage for cut starts and piercing , regardless of plate thickness . According to Zlotnicki , a good table operator can preheat a plate in 20 to 30 seconds with oxy-acetylene .
“ Using SmartJet Green technology reduces preheat time to 5-10 seconds because the focused hydrogen flame heats a specific point ( which also the mitigates the risk of excessive overheating ). The SmartJet Green torch can pierce steel of up to 150mm ( 6 in .) and edge-start on steel of up to 300mm ( 12-in .),” confirmed ESAB .
ESAB ’ s SmartJet Greet hydrogen cutting technology .
“ In terms of average flame temperature , acetylene is 3,200 ° C , hydrogen is 2,976 ° C and propane is 2,850 ° C . However , because of hydrogen ’ s focused flame , cutting speeds are equal to , or slightly faster than , acetylene . As an example , tests at our cutting automation centre in Karbon , Germany , showed that the SmartJet Green torch cuts 30mm plate at speeds of 480mm / min or better ; in comparison , an oxy-propane flame cuts steel at 400mm / minute ,” it added .
“ There is no difference in the cut quality , and tests confirm the hardness of the cut surface is similar with all fuel gases ,” confirmed Zlotnicki . “ The hydrogen flame looks significantly different than conventional fuel gases . It produces a bluish flame , but there are no inner cones . As a result , there is no way to adjust the hand valves to tell when the flame is optimised . As a result , you need an automated gas control system that will set , monitor and maintain proper flow rates based on the data in ESAB ’ s Vision T6 controller .” n
https :// esab . com / gb / eur _ en /
ISMR November 2024 | ismr . net | 117