Additive Manufacturing via Cold Metal Transfer

The goal of this study was to find suitable welding parameters for a quick and economic repair of forging tools. Therefore geometries made of hot working tool steel were generated using wire based Cold Metal Transfer (CMT) procedure. Welding and geometric parameters were varied and their influence on the mechanical characteristics of the welded structure was investigated.
The microstructure of the manufactured geometries was examined by light optical microscopy (LOM). The mechanical properties were determined by hardness testing and tensile testing. The automated process combines low heat input and a precise metal deposition with low dilution. This promises a near net shape manufacturing with reduced subsequent machining time, which reduces total costs of the produced or repaired part.