In Situ microstructure control during electric-arc-directed energy deposition

Electric-arc-directed energy deposition (Arc-DED) revolutionises 3D metal printing by overcoming powder-based processes’ size and production rate limitations. While powder-based processes are constrained by small build chambers and 3–30 micron layer heights, Arc-DED allows for unlimited build scales...

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Main Authors: Lile Squires, Victor K. Champagne, Amit Bandyopadhyay
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Taylor & Francis Group 2025-12-01
Series:Virtual and Physical Prototyping
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/17452759.2025.2499929
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author Lile Squires
Victor K. Champagne
Amit Bandyopadhyay
author_facet Lile Squires
Victor K. Champagne
Amit Bandyopadhyay
author_sort Lile Squires
collection DOAJ
description Electric-arc-directed energy deposition (Arc-DED) revolutionises 3D metal printing by overcoming powder-based processes’ size and production rate limitations. While powder-based processes are constrained by small build chambers and 3–30 micron layer heights, Arc-DED allows for unlimited build scales and 3 mm layer heights, achieving up to 100 times faster deposition rates. Unfortunately, the high energy needed for these rates and thicknesses intensifies the heating and cooling cycles inherent to Arc-DED. This causes significant variations in microstructural and mechanical properties, limiting its use for advanced alloys. This study introduces a conformal top cooling method to regulate the chaotic thermal environment of Arc-DED deposition and produce as-deposited Inconel 718 (IN718) material equivalent to the solutionized condition. The concept is experimentally investigated using cold metal transfer (CMT) of IN718. The role of microstructural and phase uniformity during material production is discussed, material performance in as-deposited and heat-treated conditions is evaluated, processing-property relationships are investigated, and applicability to other materials is addressed. Results show a 45% reduction in process time due to improved thermal management, translating to as-processed microstructural uniformity. Homogeneity in grain growth, controlled phase development, and mechanical testing suggest an as-processed solutionizing effect, with minimised impact of specimen orientation after heat treatment.
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publishDate 2025-12-01
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series Virtual and Physical Prototyping
spelling doaj-art-d02bce0553b849d28e98c2d97fa8d34a2025-08-20T03:53:46ZengTaylor & Francis GroupVirtual and Physical Prototyping1745-27591745-27672025-12-0120110.1080/17452759.2025.2499929In Situ microstructure control during electric-arc-directed energy depositionLile Squires0Victor K. Champagne1Amit Bandyopadhyay2W. M. Keck Biomedical Materials Research Lab, School of Mechanical and Materials Engineering, Washington State University Pullman, Pullman, WA, USADEVCOM Army Research Laboratory, Army Research Directorate, Aberdeen Proving Ground, Aberdeen, MD, USAW. M. Keck Biomedical Materials Research Lab, School of Mechanical and Materials Engineering, Washington State University Pullman, Pullman, WA, USAElectric-arc-directed energy deposition (Arc-DED) revolutionises 3D metal printing by overcoming powder-based processes’ size and production rate limitations. While powder-based processes are constrained by small build chambers and 3–30 micron layer heights, Arc-DED allows for unlimited build scales and 3 mm layer heights, achieving up to 100 times faster deposition rates. Unfortunately, the high energy needed for these rates and thicknesses intensifies the heating and cooling cycles inherent to Arc-DED. This causes significant variations in microstructural and mechanical properties, limiting its use for advanced alloys. This study introduces a conformal top cooling method to regulate the chaotic thermal environment of Arc-DED deposition and produce as-deposited Inconel 718 (IN718) material equivalent to the solutionized condition. The concept is experimentally investigated using cold metal transfer (CMT) of IN718. The role of microstructural and phase uniformity during material production is discussed, material performance in as-deposited and heat-treated conditions is evaluated, processing-property relationships are investigated, and applicability to other materials is addressed. Results show a 45% reduction in process time due to improved thermal management, translating to as-processed microstructural uniformity. Homogeneity in grain growth, controlled phase development, and mechanical testing suggest an as-processed solutionizing effect, with minimised impact of specimen orientation after heat treatment.https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/17452759.2025.2499929Additive manufacturingwire arc additive manufacturing (WAAM)heat treatmentarc-directed energy deposition (Arc-DED)Inconel 718advanced materials
spellingShingle Lile Squires
Victor K. Champagne
Amit Bandyopadhyay
In Situ microstructure control during electric-arc-directed energy deposition
Virtual and Physical Prototyping
Additive manufacturing
wire arc additive manufacturing (WAAM)
heat treatment
arc-directed energy deposition (Arc-DED)
Inconel 718
advanced materials
title In Situ microstructure control during electric-arc-directed energy deposition
title_full In Situ microstructure control during electric-arc-directed energy deposition
title_fullStr In Situ microstructure control during electric-arc-directed energy deposition
title_full_unstemmed In Situ microstructure control during electric-arc-directed energy deposition
title_short In Situ microstructure control during electric-arc-directed energy deposition
title_sort in situ microstructure control during electric arc directed energy deposition
topic Additive manufacturing
wire arc additive manufacturing (WAAM)
heat treatment
arc-directed energy deposition (Arc-DED)
Inconel 718
advanced materials
url https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/17452759.2025.2499929
work_keys_str_mv AT lilesquires insitumicrostructurecontrolduringelectricarcdirectedenergydeposition
AT victorkchampagne insitumicrostructurecontrolduringelectricarcdirectedenergydeposition
AT amitbandyopadhyay insitumicrostructurecontrolduringelectricarcdirectedenergydeposition