Now showing 1 - 6 of 6
  • Publication
    Build-up strategies for laser metal deposition in additive manufacturing
    ( 2018)
    Petrat, Torsten
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    Graf, Benjamin
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    Laser Metal Deposition (LMD) as a technology for additive manufacturing allows the production of large components outside of closed working chambers. Industrial applications require a stable process as well as a constant deposition of the filler material in order to ensure uniform volume growth and reproducible mechanical properties. This paper deals with the influence of travel path strategies on temperature profile and material deposition. Meandering and spiral hatching strategies are used in the center as well as in the edge of a specimen. The temperature is measured with thermocouples attatched to the backside of the specimen. The tests are carried out on the materials S235JR and 316L. The results show a strong dependence of the maximum temperatures on the travel path strategy and the welding position on the component.
  • Publication
    3D laser metal deposition in an additive manufacturing process chain
    ( 2017)
    Graf, Benjamin
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    Laser metal deposition (LMD) is an established technology for two-dimensional surface coatings. It offers high deposition rates, high material flexibility and the possibility to deposit material on existing components. Due to these features, LMD has been increasingly applied for additive manufacturing of 3D structures in recent years. Compared to previous coating applications, additive manufacturing of 3D structures leads to new challenges regarding LMD process knowledge. In this paper, the process chain for LMD as additive manufacturing technology is described. The experiments are conducted using titanium alloy Ti-6Al-4V and Inconel 718. Only the LMD nozzle is used to create a shielding gas atmosphere. This ensures high geometric flexibility, although issues with the restricted size and quality of the shielding gas atmosphere arise. In the first step, the influence of process parameters on the geometric dimensions of single weld beads is analysed based on design of experiments and statistical evaluation. The results allow adjusting the weld bead dimensions for the specific component geometry. In the second step, features of a 3D build-up strategy for high dimensional accuracy are discussed. For this purpose, cylindrical specimens consisting of more than 200 layers are built. Welding of multiple layers on top of each other leads to heat accumulation. Consequently, the molten pool is increased and weld bead height and width are changed. Furthermore, cooling times are prolonged. The build-up strategy has to be adjusted to deal with these issues. Process parameters, travel paths and cooling breaks between layers are varied. Temperatures during the deposition process are measured with pyrometer and thermography. The specimens are analysed with metallurgic cross sections, x-ray and tensile test. Tensile tests show that mechanical properties in the as-deposited condition are close to wrought material. The results are used to design guidelines for a LMD build-up strategy for complex components. As reality test, parts of a gas turbine burner and a turbine blade are manufactured according to these build-up strategies. Build-up rate, net-shape and microstructure of these demonstrative components are evaluated. This paper is relevant for industrial or scientific users of LMD, who are interested in the feasibility of this technology for additive manufacturing.
  • Publication
    Combined laser additive manufacturing for complex turbine blades
    Laser beam processes are increasingly used in the field of additive manufacturing. Prominent methods are either powderbed-based like Laser Metal Fusion (LMF), or utilizing a powder nozzle like Laser Metal Deposition (LMD). While LMF allows the manufacturing of complex structures, build rate, part volumes and material flexibility are limited. In contrast, LMD is able to operate with high deposition rates on existing parts, and materials can be changed easily during the process. However LMD shape complexity is limited. Utilizing their respective strengths, a combination of these two additive technologies has the potential to produce complex parts with high deposition rates and increased material flexibility. In this paper, combined manufacturing with additive technologies LMF and LMD is described. Its benefit for industry with emphasis on turbomachinery is shown. As reality test for the innovation, an industrial turbine blade is manufactured.
  • Publication
    Laser-Pulver-Auftragschweißen zum additiven Aufbau komplexer Formen
    ( 2015)
    Petrat, Torsten
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    Graf, Benjamin
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    Das Laser-Pulver-Auftragschweißen als additives Fertigungsverfahren ermöglicht einen endformnahen Aufbau von Bauteilen. Ein Zielkonflikt besteht zwischen der Forderung nach hoher Aufbaurate und hoher Endformnähe, welcher von der Schweißraupengröße wesentlich beeinflusst wird. In dieser Veröffentlichung wird das Laser-Pulver-Auftragschweißen eingesetzt, um komplexe Formen additiv aufzubauen. Am Beispiel eines Tannenbaumprofiles werden unterschiedliche Einflussfaktoren dargestellt. Dazu gehören die Raupengeometrie, die Überlappung einzelner Raupen, die Verwendung unterschiedlicher Aufbaustrategien und die Teilung des Gesamtkörpers in Teilkörper. Der Zielkonflikt wird durch die Herstellung von Probekörpern mit unterschiedlichen Steigungswinkeln an den Seitenflächen verdeutlicht. Die Ergebnisse zeigen eine verbesserte Endformnähe in Bereichen flacher Steigung beim Einsatz kleiner Schweißraupen. Im Vergleich dazu erlauben die Schweißparameter der großen Raupen eine 5-fach höhere Aufbaurate. Bei einer Raupenüberlappung kleiner und großer Raupengeometrien innerhalb einer Lage treten Anbindungsfehler auf. Strategien zur Behebung dieses Fehlers durch Anpassung der Schweißreihenfolge werden in dieser Veröffentlichung aufgezeigt. Diese Erfahrungen werden genutzt, um einen Gesamtkörper aus Teilkörpern unterschiedlicher Raupengeometrien zu fertigen.
  • Publication
    Maintenance, repair and overhaul in through-life engineering services
    ( 2015) ;
    Stark, Rainer
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    ; ;
    Bilz, Martin
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    Geister, Claudio
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    Graf, Benjamin
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    Grosser, Hendrik
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    Heitmüller, Florian
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    Manthei, Marcel
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    Reinkober, Sascha
    Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) is acquiring increasing commercial and socio-economic significance. For products and goods with high investment costs and a long lifespan, especially in the sectors of energy and transportation, a considerable portion of commercial profits are generated by after-sales services. In the field of research and development, not enough attention has been paid so far to tasks and approaches involving MRO. The field thus has a limited scientific background, despite a high potential in the business sector for technological and scientific optimization. The challenges and chances of MRO for sustainable enterprises will be explained with reference to the Fraunhofer Innovation Cluster Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul in Energy and Transport. The developments and project results of the four fields of innovation »Cleaning«, »Repair and Overhaul«, »Condition Monitoring and Diagnosis«, as well as »MRO Planning and Digital Assistance« will be explained.