METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR ADDITIVE MANUFACTURING USING HIGH ENERGY SOURCE AND HOT-WIRE

摘要

A method and system to manufacture workpieces employing a high intensity energy source to create a puddle and at least one resistively heated wire which is heated to at or near its melting temperature and deposited into the puddle as droplets.

主权项

1. An additive manufacturing system, comprising:
a high energy device which irradiates a surface of a workpiece with a high energy discharge to create first and second molten puddles on a surface of said workpiece; a first power supply which supplies a first heating signal to a first wire where said first heating signal comprises a plurality of first current pulses and where each of said first current pulses of said first heating signal creates a molten droplet on a distal end of said first wire which is deposited into said first puddle; and a second power supply which supplies a second heating signal to a second wire where said second heating signal comprises a plurality of second current pulses and where each of said second current pulses of said second heating signal creates a molten droplet on a distal end of said second wire which is deposited into said second puddle; and wherein each of said first current pulses reaches a peak current level after a distal end of said wire contacts said first puddle, wherein said first heating signal has no current in between said plurality of said first current pulses; wherein said distal end of said first wire is not in contact with said first puddle between subsequent peak current levels of said first current pulses; wherein said first power supply controls said first heating current such that no arc is created between said first wire and said work piece during said first current pulses; and wherein said first and second molten puddles are distinct molten puddles.