Arc-Welded Laminated Molding for Uniform Ferrite Grain Structure

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Solution Overview

Problem

Additively manufactured objects using arc welding exhibit structural variations due to differences in cooling rates of weld bead layers, leading to non-uniform mechanical strength, making it challenging to achieve consistent tensile strength, fatigue strength, and toughness.

Innovation Solution

The method involves controlling interlayer time and heat input to maintain a surface layer temperature between 200°C to 550°C, ensuring each weld bead layer has an average ferrite grain diameter of 11 µm or less, except for the surface oxide film, resulting in a uniformed structure with consistent mechanical properties.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If arc welding is used for additive manufacturing, then production efficiency is improved, but structural uniformity deteriorates due to varying cooling rates in different layers

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveproduction efficiencyVSAvoidstructural uniformity
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by pre-heating the substrate and controlling interlayer temperatures before deposition occurs. This prepares the thermal environment in advance to ensure uniform cooling rates across all layers, preventing structural non-uniformity while maintaining high production efficiency through continuous welding processes

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes thermal parameters (substrate temperature, interlayer temperature, heating rate) to optimize the cooling rate uniformity. By controlling these parameters, the patent achieves consistent microstructural properties across layers while maintaining the productivity benefits of arc welding additive manufacturing

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Speed

If cooling rates vary in weld bead layers, then production speed is improved, but mechanical strength uniformity deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveproduction speedVSAvoidmechanical strength uniformity
Core Design Contradiction:
SpeedVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes thermal parameters (substrate temperature, interlayer temperature, heating rate) to optimize the cooling rate uniformity. By controlling these parameters, the patent achieves consistent microstructural properties across layers while maintaining the productivity benefits of arc welding additive manufacturing

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent employs feedback control by monitoring temperatures and adjusting heating rates to maintain uniform cooling conditions. This ensures consistent mechanical properties across layers while allowing high production speeds through optimized process control

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

This approach enables the production of additively manufactured objects with substantially uniform strength and excellent mechanical properties, including high Vickers hardness and toughness, by transforming perlite and bainite into fine ferrite phases, while maintaining production efficiency.

Implementation Method 1

an additively manufactured object formed by melting and solidifying a mild steel by use of an arc

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectArc: Electric Arc

Implementation Method 2

melting a metal powder or metal wire by use of a heat source such as laser or arc

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectMelting: Melting

Implementation Method 3

melting and solidifying a mild steel by use of an arc

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectSolidification: Freezing

Implementation Method 4

the area ratio of a ferrite phase is 80% or more, the average grain diameter of the ferrite phase is 6 μm or less

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPhase transformation: Phase Change

Data Source

PatentEP3682996B1Laminated molding and method of manufacturing laminated molding
Publication Date: 2022.06.29 KOBE STEEL LTD
  • EP3682996B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3682996B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3
  • EP3682996B1 patent drawingFigure 4

AI summary

A laminated molding (11) formed by laminating bead weld layers (61) in which a filler metal W made of mild steel is fused and solidified, wherein at least one bead weld layer (61) has a ferrite phase having an average grain size of 11 µm except for a surface oxide film. Thus, provided are a laminated molding obtained by a laminated molding method using arc welding the texture of which is uniformized to exhibit substantially uniformized strength, and a method for manufacturing the laminated molding.