Application of MIG welding process of mild steel wire in additive manufacturing

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to investigate the forming characteristics of single-pass Metal Inert Gas (MIG) welding wire for multi-layer additive manufacturing parts. Influences of arc current, arc voltage, arc distances, welding speed, wire feed speed, temperatures and heat input on layer formation were analyzed. The deposition of material by MIG process is controlled by a robot (ABB) controller for constructing walls of rectangular box shape. The samples were measured with a microhardness testing and tensile testing onto the welded bead created by the additive manufacturing technique. It was found that the mechanical properties of microhardness values are between 151.70 to 155.80 HV and the tensile strength values are between 472.71 to 491.12 MPa according to transverse and longitudinal sections of the specimens.