Multi-Compartment Core Wire Composition for Tailored WAAM Properties

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Solution Overview

Problem

Traditional wire arc additive manufacturing (WAAM) methods lack the ability to create components with tailored material properties due to the use of simple solid metal wires, limiting the flexibility and performance of manufactured parts.

Innovation Solution

Utilization of core wires with multiple internal compartments filled with different powdered materials, heated by concentrated energy to generate a melted material with controlled deposition processes, allowing for the creation of components with varied properties.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If traditional solid metal wires are used in wire arc additive manufacturing, then the manufacturing process is simple, but the ability to create components with tailored material properties is limited

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveability to create components with tailored material propertiesVSAvoidwire structure complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The wire is divided into multiple internal compartments, each containing different powdered materials. This segmentation allows each compartment to contribute different material properties to the final component, enabling tailored material properties while maintaining a relatively simple external wire structure that fits existing manufacturing equipment.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The invention uses composite wire structures combining a core wire with multiple powdered materials in different compartments. This creates a composite feeding system where the core wire provides structural integrity and electrical conductivity, while the powdered materials provide diverse material properties, resolving the contradiction between simplicity and material versatility.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

2Manufacturing precision

If multiple powdered materials are used in the core wire compartments, then material property tailoring is enabled, but the process complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecontrol over material propertiesVSAvoiddeposition process complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Multiple powdered materials are combined within a single core wire structure, merging multiple material feeding streams into one unified deposition process. This allows precise control over material properties by adjusting the ratio and distribution of different powders in each compartment, while avoiding the complexity of multiple separate deposition systems.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The invention controls material properties by changing parameters such as the composition, size, and distribution of powdered materials in different compartments. By adjusting these parameters, precise control over the final component's material properties is achieved without significantly increasing process complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Productivity

If concentrated energy is used to heat the core wire and powdered materials, then melting and deposition efficiency is improved, but energy consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedeposition efficiencyVSAvoidenergy consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The core wire structure is designed to conduct electrical current directly through it, utilizing the wire's own electrical resistance to generate heat for melting. This self-heating mechanism eliminates the need for external heating sources, improving deposition efficiency while avoiding additional energy consumption from separate heating systems.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The concentrated energy rapidly heats the core wire and powdered materials to achieve melting phase transition. This controlled phase transition enables efficient deposition by directly transforming the materials into a meltable state at the deposition point, improving productivity while localizing energy consumption to only where needed.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #36Phase transitions

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

Enables the production of components with tailored material properties, improving quality and reducing waste by adjusting deposition parameters, resulting in uniform and consistent workpieces with optimized thickness and performance.

Implementation Method 1

The concentrated energy heats the core wire, the first powdered material, and the second powdered material to generate a melted material

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectJoule heating: Joule Heating

Implementation Method 2

the concentrated energy heats the core wire, the first powdered material, and the second powdered material to generate a melted material

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectMelting: Melting

Implementation Method 3

a first end of a concentrated energy circuit supplies an electrical current to the core wire and a second end of the concentrated energy circuit supplies the electrical current to a substrate

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElectrical conduction and resistive heating: Conduction (electrical)

Data Source

PatentEP4631650A1Multi-partition core wires with multi-material powders for tailored material properties in wire arc additive manufacturing (WAAM)
Publication Date: 2025.10.15 GOODRICH CORP
  • EP4631650A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4631650A1 patent drawingFigure 2A~2D
  • EP4631650A1 patent drawingFigure 3A~3D

AI summary

A method of forming a metal workpiece is disclosed herein. The method includes applying a concentrated energy to a core wire (102) to form melted material, and forming a metallic component from the melted material based on the concentrated energy. The core wire (102) comprises at least two internal compartments. A first internal compartment of the at least two internal compartments comprises a first powdered material (306). A second internal compartment of the at least two internal compartments comprises a second powdered material (308). The electric current heats the core wire (102), the first powdered material (306), and the second powdered material (308) to generate the melted material.