TU Dortmund acquires Gefertec’s arc405 for research and development
October 16, 2024

The Chair for Materials Technology of the Department of Mechanical Engineering at the Technical University of Dortmund, Germany, has acquired an arc405 Wire Arc Additive Manufacturing (WAAM) machine from Gefertec GmbH, Berlin. The new machine will support ongoing research into materials and expand the department’s access to different AM technologies.
When expanding its process portfolio to include WAAM, the university selected Gefertec’s machine following extensive market research and a Europe-wide tender process. The compatibility of Gefertec’s machine with titanium was said to be an important deciding factor, though the arc405 will also broaden the variety of materials and alloys which can be used by TU Dortmund.
The five-axis arc405 can additively manufacture parts with dimensions of up to 680 x 680 x 580 mm. Near-net-shape workpieces weighing up to 200 kg can be produced at build rates of up to 600 cm3 per hour. In future, working groups in the Chair intend to use the new machine to conduct both industry-related research projects and basic research.