Complex geometries in additive manufacturing: A new solution for lattice structure modeling and monitoring

Author(s):  
Bianca Maria Colosimo ◽  
Marco Grasso ◽  
Federica Garghetti ◽  
Beatrice Rossi
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (6) ◽  
pp. 2572
Author(s):  
Stefano Rosso ◽  
Federico Uriati ◽  
Luca Grigolato ◽  
Roberto Meneghello ◽  
Gianmaria Concheri ◽  
...  

Additive Manufacturing (AM) brought a revolution in parts design and production. It enables the possibility to obtain objects with complex geometries and to exploit structural optimization algorithms. Nevertheless, AM is far from being a mature technology and advances are still needed from different perspectives. Among these, the literature highlights the need of improving the frameworks that describe the design process and taking full advantage of the possibilities offered by AM. This work aims to propose a workflow for AM guiding the designer during the embodiment design phase, from the engineering requirements to the production of the final part. The main aspects are the optimization of the dimensions and the topology of the parts, to take into consideration functional and manufacturing requirements, and to validate the geometric model by computer-aided engineering software. Moreover, a case study dealing with the redesign of a piston rod is presented, in which the proposed workflow is adopted. Results show the effectiveness of the workflow when applied to cases in which structural optimization could bring an advantage in the design of a part and the pros and cons of the choices made during the design phases were highlighted.


2017 ◽  
Vol 90 ◽  
pp. 95-104 ◽  
Author(s):  
Laurent Chougrani ◽  
Jean-Philippe Pernot ◽  
Philippe Véron ◽  
Stéphane Abed

Materials ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (15) ◽  
pp. 4317
Author(s):  
Thywill Cephas Dzogbewu ◽  
Willie Bouwer du Preez

TiAl-based intermetallic alloys have come to the fore as the preferred alloys for high-temperature applications. Conventional methods (casting, forging, sheet forming, extrusion, etc.) have been applied to produce TiAl intermetallic alloys. However, the inherent limitations of conventional methods do not permit the production of the TiAl alloys with intricate geometries. Additive manufacturing technologies such as electron beam melting (EBM) and laser powder bed fusion (LPBF), were used to produce TiAl alloys with complex geometries. EBM technology can produce crack-free TiAl components but lacks geometrical accuracy. LPBF technology has great geometrical precision that could be used to produce TiAl alloys with tailored complex geometries, but cannot produce crack-free TiAl components. To satisfy the current industrial requirement of producing crack-free TiAl alloys with tailored geometries, the paper proposes a new heating model for the LPBF manufacturing process. The model could maintain even temperature between the solidified and subsequent layers, reducing temperature gradients (residual stress), which could eliminate crack formation. The new conceptualized model also opens a window for in situ heat treatment of the built samples to obtain the desired TiAl (γ-phase) and Ti3Al (α2-phase) intermetallic phases for high-temperature operations. In situ heat treatment would also improve the homogeneity of the microstructure of LPBF manufactured samples.


2017 ◽  
Vol 107 (06) ◽  
pp. 415-419
Author(s):  
M. Hillebrecht ◽  
V. Uhlenwinkel ◽  
A. von Hehl ◽  
H. Zapf ◽  
B. Schob

Mithilfe laserbasierter generativer Fertigungsverfahren (Laser Additive Manufacturing – LAM) ist es möglich, potentiell komplexe Bauteilgeometrien variantenreich herzustellen. Damit kann Gewicht eingespart werden und Funktionen sind integrierbar. In Kombination mit Automatisierungs- und innovativer Lasertechnik in der Schweiß- und Schneidapplikation lässt sich dieser Prozess wirtschaftlich nutzen. Durch pulverbettbasierte Lasergenerierverfahren können metallische Bauteile schichtweise aufgebaut werden, jedoch ist die Auswahl der Werkstoffe limitiert. Im Forschungsprojekt StaVari (Additive Fertigungsprozesse für komplexe Produkte in variantenreicher und hochfunktionaler Stahlbauweisen) vereinen sich die neuesten Erkenntnisse in Material-, Laser-, Füge- und Automatisierungstechnik, um modernen Anforderungen der Automobilbranche in der Massenfertigung sowie bei der Medizintechnik in der Kleinserie gerecht zu werden.   Laser Additive Manufacturing LAM has the potential to generate complex geometries. Through this weight reduction, functional integration and multi-variant production is possible. In combination with automation and innovative laser technology applicated in welding and cutting, this process can be used economically. With powderbed based laser additive manufacturing metal parts can be built up layer by layer. However selection of available metals is limited. In the project StaVari latest findings in material-, laser-, joining and automation technology are joint by qualified partners to meet modern automotive demands in mass production and medicine technology for small batch series.


Author(s):  
Aniruddha V. Shembekar ◽  
Yeo Jung Yoon ◽  
Alec Kanyuck ◽  
Satyandra K. Gupta

Additive manufacturing (AM) technologies have been widely used to fabricate 3D objects quickly and cost-effectively. However, building parts consisting of complex geometries with multiple curvatures can be a challenging process for the traditional AM system whose capability is restricted to planar-layered printing. Using 6-DOF industrial robots for AM overcomes this limitation by allowing materials to deposit on non-planar surfaces with desired tool orientation. In this paper, we present collision-free trajectory planning for printing using non-planar deposition. Trajectory parameters subject to surface curvature are properly controlled to avoid any collision with printing surface. We have implemented our approach by using a 6-DOF robot arm. The complex 3D structures with various curvatures were successfully fabricated, while avoiding any failures in joint movement, holding comparable build time and completing with a satisfactory surface finish.


Author(s):  
Bradley Hanks ◽  
Shantanab Dinda ◽  
Sanjay Joshi

Total hip arthroplasty (THA) is an increasingly common procedure that replaces all or part of the hip joint. The average age of patients is decreasing, which in turn increases the need for more durable implants. Revisions in hip implants are frequently caused by three primary issues: femoral loading, poor fixation, and stress shielding. First, as the age of hip implant patients decreases, the hip implants are seeing increased loading, beyond what they were traditionally designed for. Second, traditional implants may have roughened surfaces but are not fully porous which would allow bone to grow in and through the implant. Third, traditional implants are too stiff, causing more load to be carried by the implant and shielding the bone from stress. Ultimately this stress shielding leads to bone resorption and implant loosening. Additive manufacturing (AM) presents a unique opportunity for enhanced performance by allowing for personalized medicine and increased functionality through geometrically complex parts. Much research has been devoted to how AM can be used to improve surgical implants through lattice structures. To date, the authors have found no studies that have performed a complete 3D lattice structure optimization in patient specific anatomy. This paper discusses the general design of an AM hip implant that is personalized for patient specific anatomy and proposes a workflow for optimizing a lattice structure within the implant. Using this design workflow, several lattice structured AM hip implants of various unit cell types are optimized. A solid hip implant is compared against the optimized hip implants. It appears the AM hip implant with a tetra lattice outperforms the other implant by reducing stiffness and allowing for greater bone ingrowth. Ultimately it was found that AM software still has many limitations associated with attempting complex optimizations with multiple materials in patient specific anatomy. Though software limitations prevented a full 3D optimization in patient specific anatomy, the challenges associated such an approach and limitations of the current software are discussed.


2017 ◽  
Vol 23 (2) ◽  
pp. 305-319 ◽  
Author(s):  
Recep M. Gorguluarslan ◽  
Umesh N. Gandhi ◽  
Yuyang Song ◽  
Seung-Kyum Choi

Purpose Methods to optimize lattice structure design, such as ground structure optimization, have been shown to be useful when generating efficient design concepts with complex truss-like cellular structures. Unfortunately, designs suggested by lattice structure optimization methods are often infeasible because the obtained cross-sectional parameter values cannot be fabricated by additive manufacturing (AM) processes, and it is often very difficult to transform a design proposal into one that can be additively designed. This paper aims to propose an improved, two-phase lattice structure optimization framework that considers manufacturing constraints for the AM process. Design/methodology/approach The proposed framework uses a conventional ground structure optimization method in the first phase. In the second phase, the results from the ground structure optimization are modified according to the pre-determined manufacturing constraints using a second optimization procedure. To decrease the computational cost of the optimization process, an efficient gradient-based optimization algorithm, namely, the method of feasible directions (MFDs), is integrated into this framework. The developed framework is applied to three different design examples. The efficacy of the framework is compared to that of existing lattice structure optimization methods. Findings The proposed optimization framework provided designs more efficiently and with better performance than the existing optimization methods. Practical implications The proposed framework can be used effectively for optimizing complex lattice-based structures. Originality/value An improved optimization framework that efficiently considers the AM constraints was reported for the design of lattice-based structures.


2020 ◽  
Vol 62 (6) ◽  
pp. 633-639 ◽  
Author(s):  
Büşra Aslan ◽  
Ali Rıza Yıldız

Abstract In today’s world, reducing fuel consumption is one of the most important goals for the automotive industry. For this reason, weight reduction is one of the main topics in this research and for various companies. In this research, topology optimization was conducted on a suspension arm as a means of ensuring balance in automobiles. Subsequently, the model, formed by topology optimization was filled with a lattice structure and re-optimized by size optimization to obtain optimum dimensions for the model. These operations are described as lattice structure optimization. Additive manufacturing (3D printer) is necessary to produce complex models (after topology and lattice structure optimization). A static analysis of the new models was conducted by using the finite element method, and the results were compared with those of the initial design of the model. As a result of the comparison, positive results were obtained, and it was shown that topology optimization and lattice structural optimization could be used in the design of vehicle elements. According to the results obtained from lattice structure optimization, design structure can be formed more reliably than via topology optimization. In addition, both configurations and layouts of the cellular structures have a special effect on the overall performance of the lattice structure.


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