Rapid Prototyping Technology Of Al-alloy Parts By AC-TIG

Rapid prototyping is a kind of new manufacture technology which fabricates physical model, mould and parts with the method of point-by-point or layer-by-layer based on scatter- accumulation. It becomes a kind of competitive technology due to its short period, low cost and shaping diversity. Taking 5356 Al-alloy for example, this paper presents an investigation on the rapid prototyping process of gas tungsten arc welding, forming rectangular plates.This paper discusses the effect of processing parameters on the geometry and surface morphology of single-pass layers. Low welding current, low welding speed, high wire feeding speed are preferred to achieve high height of the deposited layer; while high welding current, high wire feeding speed, low welding speed are preferred to achieve high width of the deposited layer. It will get a good quality of deposited products while keeping single welding route, 2min-5min interval between welding beads, gradually increasing time interval between welding layers.It develops different building of structures by different welding parameters. There are lots ofβ(Mg 5 Al 8 ) phase distributed in theαsolid solution, with some impurity phase-(FeMn)Al 6 at the same time. It will achieve a good quality of deposited products with moreβ(Mg 5 Al 8 ) phase, which can be achieved by low welding current, high welding speed and wire feeding rate.Different matching of welding parameters has some effect on homogenization of layered-structures. Under the situation of this experiment, it will get a good quality of deposited products with 2min interval between welding beads, long time interval or gradually increasing time interval between welding layers.