In-situ remanufacturing of forging dies for automobile parts based on wire arc directed energy deposition

Forging dies, which are crucial for manufacturing automobile tripod housings, are frequently replaced owing to their extensive use under challenging conditions, leading to the disposal of many components and increasing manufacturing costs. The development of repair and remanufacturing technologies for high-hardness forging dies is a challenging. This study explores the on-site repair of tripod forging dies using wire arc directed energy deposition (arc-DED), assesses the hardness and tensile properties of remanufactured components, and compares them with the specified forging die requirements for on-site usability. A validated novel slicer is employed in remanufacturing experiments on a 9.8 % Cr die steel tripod-forging die. Results show the effectiveness of arc-DED in remanufacturing, surpassing the specified requirements by at least 111 HV and 61 MPa in hardness and tensile strength, respectively. Thus, this study presents a promising approach to reduce the manufacturing costs and environmental impact associated with the forging-die-component disposal.