The Welding and Additive Manufacturing Centre (WAMC) at 美姬阁 is a recognised world-leading institution in Wire and Arc Additive Manufacturing (WAAM). WAAM is a 3D printing process suitable for manufacturing large and fully dense parts of medium complexity. It could replace traditional methods to produce components, reducing cost and improving supply chain resilience and sustainability.
The WAMC started to build its reputation by working on titanium alloys but investigated many other materials, including aluminium.
- We demonstrated that in-situ mechanical work can drastically reduce porosity levels and increase material performance of aluminium WAAM deposit.
- We investigated the design of new alloys using in-situ alloying. This technique allows us to test a wide range of chemical compositions rapidly and at a low cost.
- We demonstrated the potential of advanced processes to deposit high-quality material.
- We combined WAAM with milling to produce high-quality components and repair parts.
- We worked with multiple end-user industries to mature the process and demonstrated its potential by building several large-scale and complex demonstrators.
Our ambition is to see WAAM implemented further in the future, and we need industry input to make it happen.
We will discuss the potential and barriers to implementing WAAM for manufacturing aluminium components with the audience. The workshop will be a mix of plenary sessions where the WAMC team will present the recent progress made and suggest future research topics. Conversations in smaller groups will allow discussion about potentials, challenges, and barriers to implementing WAAM for aluminium components.
There will be an opportunity to visit our additive manufacturing and welding facilities on the day; please sign up for this option when you register.
In the coming weeks after the workshop, the participants will be provided with a report summarising the presentations and discussions on the day.
Event programme
10:00 – Welcome and introductions
10:15 – Presentation of the status of research and industrialisation of aluminium WAAM
11:00 – Break
11:15 – Roundtable discussion: Opportunity and barrier to exploitation
12:30 – Lunch
13:15 – Roundtable discussion: What is the next step?
14:30 – Break
14:45 – Presentation: Future research opportunity and collaboration route
15:15 – Workshop summary, next step and closure
15:30 – Optional lab tour
Event sponsor
EPSRC Impact Acceleration Accounts – Early Career Researcher Exploratory Impact Award
Location and travel details
Conway House B316
Ground floor lecture room
美姬阁
How to find us
Who should attend
We invite aluminium stakeholders from academia or industry with an interest in or experience in large-scale additives to join us on this day.
