WIRE FED ADDITIVE MANUFACTURING SCHEME

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This concept is basically a process in which material in form of wire is used for extrusion.The process suggested can perform material deposition at any position, thus ruling out the problem of inaccesibility. There are six major sub assemblies that constitute the whole systemFrame aasemblyThe frame assembly provides translation along the bed length required for machining of long structures. Also frame assembly houses the drive system of the leadscrews which provides translation motion to the Z block longitudinally.Z blockThe z block is provided the longitudinal motion, due to frame assembly leadscrews. The z block also houses the crane block that translates in lateral direction due to a rack layed in the z block. The z block also holds the tool holder which facilitates in tool exchange. The wire spool of material is also mounted on the Z blockCrane blockThe crane block is actually a motorised carriage which runs along the rack of z block thus providing lateral motion. The crane block holds the robotic arm and its upper arm axis 1 motor which provides azimuth rotation to the upper arm. The upper arm is connected to servomotor via a hollow gear. Thia hollow gear is to make possible the entry of material wire through the robotic arm and ending into the extruder. Tool holder The tool holder holds various tools and nozzles for different applications. The tool holder apart from holding tools also assists in transferring and receiving the tools used by robotic arm. The central gear is rotated by a servomotor which in return revolves the nozzle holder gears. The nozzle holders secure the nozzles magnetically and are received or fitted from and to robotic arm via screwing action.Robotic armThe robotic arm is the main component of the whole scheme. Operated by 6 positive feedback programmable servomotors / stepper motor, this component can perform any operation at any position. The robotic arm has a hollow cavity all along the length of the assembly. This hollow cavity carries a flexible pipe which helps the pipe to retain its shape while the arm performs its acrobatic actions.The flexible pipe is through which the material wire reaches the extruder cone. It also houses the extruder assembly performing ita operation of gathering, melting and performing extrusion.Work platformThe work platform is where to clamp the workpiece with. The platform has four jaws, each jaw independly driven by standalone drive systems for programmable clamping of any symmetric or asymmetric job piece. The work platform also is a stewart platform, which can bend at any limited angle thus changing the orientation of the job pieces. Due to which even the most complicated overhang part production can be done easily