BIULETYN INSTYTUTU SPAWALNICTWA No. 6/2017 59 Marcin Panas, Patryk Kowalski, Mateusz Ostrysz, Wojciech Łacisz, Aleksandra Skublewska, Michał Dylewski, Paweł Gawroński, Mateusz Gajowniczek, Paweł Cegielski Robotic Arc Surfacing in the Additive Technique-Aided Creation of Models Te article was a distinguished paper presented at a Symposium of Welding Engineering Institutes and Departments in Istebna on 13-14.06.2017 Abstract: Previously used reconditioning of worn machinery parts based on welding methods, primarily arc surfacing and thermal spraying, enabled the re- storing of nominal shapes and dimensions as well as other parameters and func- tional properties of elements. Intensively developing 3D print additive methods enable the creation of models and functional prototypes, including machinery elements. Te article presents original works aimed at the implementation of MIG/MAG robotic arc surfacing (in its low-energy CMT variant) in the design and fabrication of 3D metal models. Keywords: additive technique; 3D printing; arc surfacing; rapid prototyping doi: 10.17729/ebis.2017.6/8 Introduction Over the past few months, the research associ- ation JOINT has focused primarily on the pos- sibility of creating metal models using robotic MIG/MAG arc surfacing processes. At present, mainly because of the enormous commer- cial success of 3D printers, additive techniques are enjoying signifcant popularity. However, a considerable disadvantage of 3D printers is the building material used by them, limiting the mass scale application of the printers to marketing-related purposes. Te creation of 3D models through surfacing enables the obtain- ment of very good properties, similar to those of the base material, and signifcant freedom as regards shapes of fnished elements. Trough its use when repairing machinery elements and/ or their surface, the process of surfacing is con- siderably well known. Additive Techniques Classifcation Additive techniques include methods which en- able the shaping of products through applying layers of a building material. Te primary di- vision of additive techniques is as follows [3]: • rapid modelling, used when: ◦ preparing educational aids, ◦ making mock-ups, Marcin Panas, Patryk Kowalski, Mateusz Ostrysz, Wojciech Łacisz, Aleksandra Skublewska, Michał Dylew- ski, Paweł Gawroński, Mateusz Gajowniczek, Paweł Cegielski – Warsaw University of Technology; Faculty of Production Engineering; Welding Engineering research Association JOINT