Additive Manufacturing Bead Deposition Based Rotary Tool Path Applications

Additive manufacturing layer-based solution approaches have been applied for several technologies and systems. Process planning solutions are being developed for planar applications, but rotary applications can benefit from an additive manufacturing ‘rotary layering’ strategy as well. There are systems that have been developed to coat pipes and other rotationally symmetric components, and there are multi-axis applications that would require rotary-like tool paths. Developing and exploring additive rotary tool path applications is the focus of this research. These initial solutions will be applicable for direct energy deposition and thermal spraying models. AM rotary proof of concept tool paths are developed using a commercial CAD/CAM software, and a software development kit (SDK). Selected case studies are presented, with varying levels of geometric complexity.