Abstract:Wire+arc additive manufacturing (WAAM) system for Al-6.3Cu alloy using hybrid pulse variable polarity
gas tungsten arc welding (HPVP-GTAW) process was established. The geometry of Al-6.3Cu single-pass multilayer deposits
influenced by wire feed speed and travel speed, microstructure and tensile properties of deposited samples produced
by the conventional VP-GTAW and HPVP-GTAW process were investigated. Experimental results show that the effective
control on deposits geometry is obtained with the coordination of wire feed speed and travel speed. The internal structure
of Al-6.3Cu deposits shows the typical layered distribution characteristics, mainly composed of equiaxed grains. WAAM
samples with as-deposited condition have good plasticity, but the relatively low strength. Compared with conventional VPGTAW
process, it is beneficial in enhancing the strength of Al-6.3Cu deposits using HPVP-GTAW process.