Abstract:
This project aims to demonstrate the feasibility of MIG welding for metal additive manufacturing. It was undertaken due to the increasing demand and popularity of additive manufacturing systems, and the great potential for innovation and improvement in the field.
The project has succeeded in designing a three dof system as a base for mig welding. It incorporates two dof on the torch and one dof on the bed. This arrangement has been designed for gasless MIG welding using mild steel. It uses a self-designed wire feeder, operated through a microcontroller and a stepper motor, to drive the wire through a welding torch.
There is a lot of potential for continuation work based on the designed system, which could look to further optimise the design, attempt more complex geometries, and design the system to increase its material capabilities.
