Wire arc additive manufacturing of a high-strength low-alloy steel part: environmental impacts, costs, and mechanical properties

Additive manufacturing (AM) technologies have demonstrated a promising material efficiency potential in comparison to traditional material removal processes. A new directed energy deposition (DED) category AM process called wire arc additive manufacturing (WAAM) is evolving due to its benefits which include faster build rates, capacity to build large volumes, and inexpensive feedstock materials and machine tools compared to more technologically mature powder-based AM technologies. However, WAAM products present challenges like poor surface finish and lower dimensional accuracy compared to powder-based processes or machined parts, prevalence of thermal distortions, residual stresses, and defects like porosity, cracks, and humping, often requiring post-processing operations like finish machining and heat treatment. These post-processing operations add to the production cost and environmental footprint of WAAM-built parts. Therefore, considering the opportunities and challenges presented by WAAM, this paper analyses the environmental impact, production costs, and mechanical properties of WAAM parts and compares them with those achieved by laser powder bed fusion (LPBF) and traditional computer numerical control (CNC) milling. A high-strength low-alloy steel (ER70S) mechanical part with medium complexity was fabricated using WAAM. Based on the data collected during this experiment, environmental impact and cost models were built using life cycle assessment and life cycle costing methodologies. WAAM was observed to be the most environmentally friendly option due to its superior material efficacy than CNC milling and has a better energy efficiency than LPBF. Also, WAAM was the most cost-friendly option when adopted in batch production for batch sizes above 3. The environmental and cost potential of WAAM is amplified when used for manufacturing large products, resulting in significant material, emission, and cost savings. The fabricated WAAM part demonstrated good mechanical properties comparable to that of cast/forged material. The methodology and experimental data presented in this study can be used to calculate environmental impacts and costs for other products and can be helpful to manufacturers in selecting the most ecofriendly and cost-efficient manufacturing process.