Metal additive manufacturing is advancing towards industrial series production. Siemens Energy and GEFERTEC are collaborating to scale WAAM technology, a process that uses wire and electric arc to build large, complex parts. This alliance, presented ahead of the WAAMathon, aims to reduce costs and waste compared to traditional methods, opening up new possibilities in sectors such as energy and automotive.
WAAM: the welding that builds parts layer by layer 🏗️
WAAM (Wire Arc Additive Manufacturing) technology deposits molten metal layer by layer, combining the speed of robotic welding with the flexibility of digital design. Unlike powder-based 3D printing, WAAM allows the fabrication of components several meters long without the limitations of a closed chamber. The main challenge is ensuring repeatability and thermal control in each pass, something Siemens Energy and GEFERTEC address by integrating sensors and simulation software to prevent deformations.
The WAAMathon: where engineers sweat instead of the metal 😅
While WAAM machines melt wire at thousands of degrees, Siemens Energy and GEFERTEC engineers sweat trying to ensure series production doesn't turn into an industrial soap opera. Because, let's be honest, scaling up a metal 3D printer is like teaching a robot to cook paella: it seems easy until the electric arc decides to go rogue and melts your part. But hey, if they pull it off, we might see printed turbines before your Amazon order arrives home.