Representatives from the Institute of Engine and Power Plant Engineering of Samara University presented their experience in implementing wire arc additive manufacturing technology at a nationwide platform.
On December 17–18, 2025, the scientific-practical conference RAW 2025 ("Robots, Additive and Welding") was held in St. Petersburg at the "Technopolis" research building of Peter the Great St. Petersburg Polytechnic University (SPbPU). The event brought together leading experts in the fields of industrial robotics, welding, and additive technologies.
During the session "Additive Technologies and Materials," 1st-year postgraduate student Ilya Borodkin and 4th-year bachelor's student Anton Kaleev from the Department of Engine Production Technology delivered presentations on the specifics of implementing wire arc additive manufacturing (WAAM) technology at Samara University. The work of the young researchers was carried out under the scientific supervision of Andrey Balyakin, a senior lecturer at the Department of Engine Production Technology and a junior research associate at the university's engineering center.
The presentation was dedicated to the technical aspects of working with a robotic additive manufacturing setup using WAAM technology. The speakers provided a detailed breakdown of the process of setting up a virtual cell and a post-processor in the SprutCAM environment and also demonstrated their own development—a temperature control system built on microcontrollers and a PLC. As examples of the successful application of the technology, they showed manufactured products of complex geometric shapes, including a ship propeller blank.
The presentation sparked keen interest within the professional community. During the discussion, attendees asked applied questions concerning the design of the cooling system developed at IEPPE, its actual effectiveness, and the rationale for choosing specific hardware components.
"The RAW 2025 conference was an excellent opportunity to sync up with colleagues from other universities and industry representatives. The program was divided into two blocks: a theoretical one, where we exchanged experiences, and a practical one. The second day allowed us to see the work of advanced software and equipment firsthand in the laboratories of St. Petersburg Polytechnic," commented Ilya Borodkin.
On the second day of the event, participants visited the production facilities of the Laboratory of Light Materials and Structures at SPbPU. Conference partners—companies Robowizard and TechLab—demonstrated the capabilities of robotic welding, laser technologies, and specialized software for managing additive manufacturing setups.
The trip allowed the young scientists from IEPPE not only to present their developments at the federal level but also to receive valuable feedback for the further advancement of additive technologies at Samara University.
Text and photo by Ilya Borodkin
