Analysis Of Laser-Arc Hybrid Additive Manufacturing Process For Aluminum Structures

Additive manufacturing (AM) process is based on discrete-bulk thinking through CAD design data, using a cumulative way layer by layer to create a solid part. Due to its high forming efficiency, low cost, and compact parts etc., scientific research institutions in the world have done a lot of research on it, and it has application value and broad application prospects in comprehensive fields. Compared with the traditional forging and casting, it does not need to molds to form and has short manufacturing cycle and high degree of flexibility, as well as it can realize digital and intelligent production. The microstructure and mechanical properties of the product is more excellent than the traditional casting, and compared to laser and electron beam and other additional material manufacturing technology, it has the advantages of low production cost, high production efficiency.However, arc welding also exists some problems during formaing process, such as a forming precision, bad controllability of the pool, lack of special materials and and poor working conditions. In order to solve some problems of arc welding process, we use the laser arc hybrid welding robot forming system to study the 5356 Aluminum Alloy. By adjusting forming trajectory and welding parameters, to achieve better mechanical properties and complex parts with high accuracy.This paper firstly studies on single additive pass manufacturing process to find the best additive manufacturing process parameters of single MIG additive manufacturing process. Under the optimum process parameters, we further study the relationship between the multilayer forming trajectory and the specimen's performance. The relationship between process parameters and trajectories of change are sumed up as follows:suitable interlayer retention time can improve the wall mechanical properties of vertical direction; laser arc hybrid welding method can further improve mechanical properties of the wall and can improve the forming precision. Beciprocal bulk can solve the problem that single way possesses, for instance accumulation, unevenness, and ductile brittle mixed fracture of the tensile specimen.By the method of laser arc hybrid welding to accumulate solid parts, we can achieve the simple frame structure and curved surface structure. Firstly, we find the suitable base materials and effects of forming parameters on the formation of box shaped specimens. With the increase of the current, forming surface condition gradually improves, but if the current is too high, the pool is prone to spills and collapse; With the increase of the wire extension, the protective effect on the surface of welding sample decreases gradually, when wire extension is greater than 15mm, the surface tends to have more porosities. We find the optimum forming path, we have studied the effect of welding current, interlayer retention time, lifting height and offset on curved surface forming. When the welding current is 100A, parts forming effect is better, and weld pool does not prone to collapse and other defects. When interlayer retention time is 60s and gun enhancing height of each layer is 2mm and the actual offset is half of ideal offset,the forming effect is the best.Compared with arc welding, laser - arc hybrid additive manufacturing process method has better forming effect, and laser - arc hybrid welding method can achieve some structural parts.