The role of robotics in additive manufacturing: review of the AM processes and introduction of an intelligent system

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
J. Norberto Pires ◽  
Amin S. Azar ◽  
Filipe Nogueira ◽  
Carlos Ye Zhu ◽  
Ricardo Branco ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Additive Manufacturing ◽  
Computer Aided Design ◽  
Intelligent System ◽  
Material Selection ◽  
High Strength Steels ◽  
Industrial Applications ◽  
Layer By Layer ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Functional Components

Purpose Additive manufacturing (AM) is a rapidly evolving manufacturing process, which refers to a set of technologies that add materials layer-by-layer to create functional components. AM technologies have received an enormous attention from both academia and industry, and they are being successfully used in various applications, such as rapid prototyping, tooling, direct manufacturing and repair, among others. AM does not necessarily imply building parts, as it also refers to innovation in materials, system and part designs, novel combination of properties and interplay between systems and materials. The most exciting features of AM are related to the development of radically new systems and materials that can be used in advanced products with the aim of reducing costs, manufacturing difficulties, weight, waste and energy consumption. It is essential to develop an advanced production system that assists the user through the process, from the computer-aided design model to functional components. The challenges faced in the research and development and operational phase of producing those parts include requiring the capacity to simulate and observe the building process and, more importantly, being able to introduce the production changes in a real-time fashion. This paper aims to review the role of robotics in various AM technologies to underline its importance, followed by an introduction of a novel and intelligent system for directed energy deposition (DED) technology. Design/methodology/approach AM presents intrinsic advantages when compared to the conventional processes. Nevertheless, its industrial integration remains as a challenge due to equipment and process complexities. DED technologies are among the most sophisticated concepts that have the potential of transforming the current material processing practices. Findings The objective of this paper is identifying the fundamental features of an intelligent DED platform, capable of handling the science and operational aspects of the advanced AM applications. Consequently, we introduce and discuss a novel robotic AM system, designed for processing metals and alloys such as aluminium alloys, high-strength steels, stainless steels, titanium alloys, magnesium alloys, nickel-based superalloys and other metallic alloys for various applications. A few demonstrators are presented and briefly discussed, to present the usefulness of the introduced system and underlying concept. The main design objective of the presented intelligent robotic AM system is to implement a design-and-produce strategy. This means that the system should allow the user to focus on the knowledge-based tasks, e.g. the tasks of designing the part, material selection, simulating the deposition process and anticipating the metallurgical properties of the final part, as the rest would be handled automatically. Research limitations/implications This paper reviews a few AM technologies, where robotics is a central part of the process, such as vat photopolymerization, material jetting, binder jetting, material extrusion, powder bed fusion, DED and sheet lamination. This paper aims to influence the development of robot-based AM systems for industrial applications such as part production, automotive, medical, aerospace and defence sectors. Originality/value The presented intelligent system is an original development that is designed and built by the co-authors J. Norberto Pires, Amin S. Azar and Trayana Tankova.

Analysis of barriers to implement additive manufacturing technology in the Indian automotive sector

2017 ◽  
Vol 47 (10) ◽  
pp. 972-991 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gourav Dwivedi ◽  
Samir K. Srivastava ◽  
Rajiv K. Srivastava
Keyword(s):  
Additive Manufacturing ◽  
Production Technology ◽  
Industrial Applications ◽  
Mitigation Strategies ◽  
Government Support ◽  
Automotive Sector ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Potential Benefits ◽  
Practical Implications

Purpose A spurt in the usage of additive manufacturing (AM) is observed in industrial applications to produce final parts along with rapid prototyping and rapid tooling. Despite the potential benefits of on-demand and on-location production of customised or complex shape parts, widespread implementation of this disruptive production technology is not yet visible. The purpose of this paper is to examine the various barriers to implement AM in the Indian automotive sector and analyse interrelations among them. Design/methodology/approach Based on the extant literature and discussions with industry experts, ten major barriers are identified. The authors use a modified Fuzzy interpretive structural modelling (Fuzzy-ISM) method to derive strengths of relationships among these barriers, develop hierarchical levels, and thereafter group and rank these barriers. Findings ISM diagraph is developed to demonstrate how the barriers drive one another. Production technology capabilities and government support emerge as the most critical factors, with high driving power and medium dependence. Research limitations/implications While identified barriers may be similar across the automotive industry, generalisation of results for interrelationships and ranks in other industries may be limited. Practical implications The findings may be useful to managers to develop suitable mitigation strategies, and take more informed decisions, with individual focus, level focus or cluster focus. Social implications Findings clearly establish that the role of management and government is crucial in mitigating workers’ resistance to AM implementation. Originality/value This paper contributes to AM literature by the structured presentation of the barriers to implement AM in the Indian automotive sector. It also extends the Fuzzy-ISM method by presenting calculation of indirect relations using the appropriate max-product composition and in ranking the barriers.

Animal orthosis fabrication with additive manufacturing – a case study of custom orthosis for chicken

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Wiktoria Maria Wojnarowska ◽  
Jakub Najowicz ◽  
Tomasz Piecuch ◽  
Michał Sochacki ◽  
Dawid Pijanka ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Veterinary Medicine ◽  
Additive Manufacturing ◽  
Computer Aided Design ◽  
Three Dimensional ◽  
Fused Deposition Modelling ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Fused Deposition ◽  
Secondary Objective ◽  
Traditional Manufacturing ◽  
Aided Design

Purpose Chicken orthoses that cover the ankle joint area are not commercially available. Therefore, the main purpose of this study is to fabricate a customised temporary Ankle–Foot Orthosis (AFO) for a chicken with a twisted ankle using computer-aided design (CAD) and three-dimensional (3D) printing. The secondary objective of the paper is to present the specific application of Additive Manufacturing (AM) in veterinary medicine. Design/methodology/approach The design process was based on multiple sketches, photos and measurements that were provided by the owner of the animal. The 3D model of the orthosis was made with Autodesk Fusion 360, while the prototype was fabricated using fused deposition modelling (FDM). Evaluation of the AFO was performed using the finite element method. Findings The work resulted in a functional 3D printed AFO for chicken. It was found that the orthosis made with AM provides satisfactory stiffen and a good fit. It was concluded that AM is suitable for custom bird AFO fabrication and, in some respects, is superior to traditional manufacturing methods. It was also concluded that the presented procedure can be applied in other veterinary cases and to other animal species and other parts of their body. AM provides veterinary with a powerful tool for the production of well-fitted and durable orthoses for animals. Research limitations/implications The study does not include the chicken's opinion on the comfort or fit of the manufactured AFO due to communication issues. Evaluation of the final prototype was done by the researchers and the animal owner. Originality/value No evidence was found in the literature on the use of AM for chicken orthosis, so this study is the first to describe such an application of AM. In addition, the study demonstrates the value of AM in veterinary medicine, especially in the production of devices such as orthoses.

Constraints and limitations of concrete 3D printing in architecture

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Chien-Ho Ko
Keyword(s):  
3D Printing ◽  
Manufacturing Process ◽  
Computer Aided Design ◽  
Research Approach ◽  
Layer By Layer ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Improve Design ◽  
Study Results ◽  
Computer Aided ◽  
Property Control

Purpose Additive manufacturing of concrete (AMoC) is an emerging technology for constructing buildings. However, due to the nature of the concrete property and constructing buildings in layers, constraints and limitations are encountered while applying AMoC in architecture. This paper aims to analyze the constraints and limitations that may be encountered while using AMoC in architecture. Design/methodology/approach A descriptive research approach is used to conduct this study. First, basic notions of AMoC are introduced. Then, challenges of AMoC, including hardware, material property, control and design, are addressed. Finally, strategies that may be used to overcome the challenges are discussed. Findings Factors influencing the success of AMoC include hardware, material, control methods, manufacturing process and design. Considering these issues in the early design phase is crucial to achieving a successful computer-aided design (CAD)/computer-aided manufacturing (CAM) integration to bring CAD and CAM benefits into the architecture industry. Originality/value In three-dimensional (3D) printing, objects are constructed layer by layer. Printing results are thus affected by the additive method (such as toolpath) and material properties (such as tensile strength and slump). Although previous studies attempt to improve AMoC, most of them focus on the manufacturing process. However, a successful application of AMoC in architecture needs to consider the possible constraints and limitations of concrete 3D printing. So far, research on the potential challenges of applying AMoC in architecture from a building lifecycle perspective is still limited. The study results of this study could be used to improve design and construction while applying AMoC in architecture.

Carbon Nanotube Reinforced Fused Deposition Modeling Using Microwave Irradiation

2016 ◽  
Author(s):  
Meng Zhang ◽  
Xiaoxu Song ◽  
Weston Grove ◽  
Emmett Hull ◽  
Z. J. Pei ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Carbon Nanotubes ◽  
Carbon Nanotube ◽  
Additive Manufacturing ◽  
Microwave Irradiation ◽  
Computer Aided Design ◽  
Fused Deposition Modeling ◽  
Layer By Layer ◽  
Sem Images ◽  
Fused Deposition ◽  
Deposition Modeling

Additive manufacturing (AM) is a class of manufacturing processes where material is deposited in a layer-by-layer fashion to fabricate a three-dimensional part directly from a computer-aided design model. With a current market share of 44%, thermoplastic-based additive manufacturing such as fused deposition modeling (FDM) is a prevailing technology. A key challenge for AM parts (especially for parts made by FDM) in engineering applications is the weak inter-layer adhesion. The lack of bonding between filaments usually results in delamination and mechanical failure. To address this challenge, this study embedded carbon nanotubes into acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) thermoplastics via a filament extrusion process. The vigorous response of carbon nanotubes to microwave irradiation, leading to the release of a large amount of heat, is used to melt the ABS thermoplastic matrix adjacent to carbon nanotubes within a very short time period. This treatment is found to enhance the inter-layer adhesion without bulk heating to deform the 3D printed parts. Tensile and flexural tests were performed to evaluation the effects of microwave irradiation on mechanical properties of the specimens made by FDM. Scanning electron microscopic (SEM) images were taken to characterize the fracture surfaces of tensile test specimens. The actual carbon nanotube contents in the filaments were measured by conducting thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). The effects of microwave irradiation on the electrical resistivity of the filament were also reported.

scholarly journals Electron Beam Melting of Ti-6Al-4V Lattice Structures; Correlation between Post Heat Treatment and Mechanical Properties

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Giuseppe Del Guercio ◽  
Manuela Galati ◽  
Abdollah Saboori
Keyword(s):  
Mechanical Properties ◽  
Heat Treatment ◽  
Computer Aided Design ◽  
Mechanical Performance ◽  
Industrial Applications ◽  
Heat Treatments ◽  
Layer By Layer ◽  
Lattice Structures ◽  
Heat Treated ◽  
Aided Design

Abstract Additive Manufacturing processes are considered advanced manufacturing methods. It would be possible to produce complex shape components from a Computer-Aided Design model in a layer-by-layer manner. Lattice structures as one of the complex geometries could attract lots of attention for both medical and industrial applications. In these structures, besides cell size and cell type, the microstructure of lattice structures can play a key role in these structures' mechanical performance. On the other hand, heat treatment has a significant influence on the mechanical properties of the material. Therefore, in this work, the effect of the heat treatments on the microstructure and mechanical behaviour of Ti-6Al-4V lattice structures manufactured by EBM was analyzed. The main mechanical properties were compared with the Ashby and Gibson model. It is very interesting to notice that a more homogeneous failure mode was found for the heat-treated samples. The structures' relative density was the main factor influencing their mechanical performance of the heat-treated samples. It is also found that the heat treatments were able to preserve the stiffness and the compressive strength of the lattice structures. Besides, an increment of both the elongation at failure and the absorbed energy was obtained after the heat treatments. Microstructure analysis of the heat-treated samples confirms the increment of ductility of the heat-treated samples with respect to the as-built one.

scholarly journals ADDITIVE MANUFACTURING - APPLICATION OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE AVIATION INDUSTRY

2015 ◽  
Vol 6 (2) ◽  
pp. 63-86
Author(s):  
Dipesh Dhital ◽  
Yvonne Ziegler
Keyword(s):  
Additive Manufacturing ◽  
3D Printing ◽  
Computer Aided Design ◽  
Free Form ◽  
Aviation Industry ◽  
Layer By Layer ◽  
Printing Technology ◽  
3D Printing Technology ◽  
Subtractive Manufacturing ◽  
Aided Design

Additive Manufacturing also known as 3D Printing is a process whereby a real object of virtually any shape can be created layer by layer from a Computer Aided Design (CAD) model. As opposed to the conventional Subtractive Manufacturing that uses cutting, drilling, milling, welding etc., 3D printing is a free-form fabrication process and does not require any of these processes. The 3D printed parts are lighter, require short lead times, less material and reduce environmental footprint of the manufacturing process; and is thus beneficial to the aerospace industry that pursues improvement in aircraft efficiency, fuel saving and reduction in air pollution. Additionally, 3D printing technology allows for creating geometries that would be impossible to make using moulds and the Subtractive Manufacturing of drilling/milling. 3D printing technology also has the potential to re-localize manufacturing as it allows for the production of products at the particular location, as and when required; and eliminates the need for shipping and warehousing of final products.

Increasing Part Accuracy in Additive Manufacturing Processes Using a k-d Tree Based Clustered Adaptive Layering

2014 ◽  
Vol 136 (6) ◽  
Author(s):  
Neeraj Panhalkar ◽  
Ratnadeep Paul ◽  
Sam Anand
Keyword(s):  
Additive Manufacturing ◽  
Computer Aided Design ◽  
Three Dimensional ◽  
Layer By Layer ◽  
Adaptive Slicing ◽  
Stl File ◽  
Build Time ◽  
Standard File Format ◽  
Aided Design ◽  
Profile Errors

Additive manufacturing (AM) is widely used in aerospace, automobile, and medical industries for building highly accurate parts using a layer by layer approach. The stereolithography (STL) file is the standard file format used in AM machines and approximates the three-dimensional (3D) model of parts using planar triangles. However, as the STL file is an approximation of the actual computer aided design (CAD) surface, the geometric errors in the final manufactured parts are pronounced, particularly in those parts with highly curved surfaces. If the part is built with the minimum uniform layer thickness allowed by the AM machine, the manufactured part will typically have the best quality, but this will also result in a considerable increase in build time. Therefore, as a compromise, the part can be built with variable layer thicknesses, i.e., using an adaptive layering technique, which will reduce the part build time while still reducing the part errors and satisfying the geometric tolerance callouts on the part. This paper describes a new approach of determining the variable slices using a 3D k-d tree method. The paper validates the proposed k-d tree based adaptive layering approach for three test parts and documents the results by comparing the volumetric, cylindricity, sphericity, and profile errors obtained from this approach with those obtained using a uniform slicing method. Since current AM machines are incapable of handling adaptive slicing approach directly, a “pseudo” grouped adaptive layering approach is also proposed here. This “clustered slicing” technique will enable the fabrication of a part in bands of varying slice thicknesses with each band having clusters of uniform slice thicknesses. The proposed k-d tree based adaptive slicing approach along with clustered slicing has been validated with simulations of the test parts of different shapes.

CubeSat Fabrication through Additive Manufacturing and Micro-Dispensing

2011 ◽  
Vol 2011 (1) ◽  
pp. 001021-001027 ◽  
Author(s):  
Cassie Gutierrez ◽  
Rudy Salas ◽  
Gustavo Hernandez ◽  
Dan Muse ◽  
Richard Olivas ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Additive Manufacturing ◽  
Computer Aided Design ◽  
Printed Circuit Boards ◽  
Fused Deposition Modeling ◽  
Integrated Approach ◽  
Layer By Layer ◽  
New Paradigm ◽  
Spatial Gradients ◽  
Fused Deposition ◽  
On Demand

Fabricating entire systems with both electrical and mechanical content through on-demand 3D printing is the future for high value manufacturing. In this new paradigm, conformal and complex shapes with a diversity of materials in spatial gradients can be built layer-by-layer using hybrid Additive Manufacturing (AM). A design can be conceived in Computer Aided Design (CAD) and printed on-demand. This new integrated approach enables the fabrication of sophisticated electronics in mechanical structures by avoiding the restrictions of traditional fabrication techniques, which result in stiff, two dimensional printed circuit boards (PCB) fabricated using many disparate and wasteful processes. The integration of Additive Manufacturing (AM) combined with Direct Print (DP) micro-dispensing and robotic pick-and-place for component placement can 1) provide the capability to print-on-demand fabrication, 2) enable the use of micron-resolution cavities for press fitting electronic components and 3) integrate conductive traces for electrical interconnect between components. The fabrication freedom introduced by AM techniques such as stereolithography (SL), ultrasonic consolidation (UC), and fused deposition modeling (FDM) have only recently been explored in the context of electronics integration and 3D packaging. This paper describes a process that provides a novel approach for the fabrication of stiff conformal structures with integrated electronics and describes a prototype demonstration: a volumetrically-efficient sensor and microcontroller subsystem scheduled to launch in a CubeSat designed with the CubeFlow methodology.

Direct slicing of T-spline surfaces for additive manufacturing

2018 ◽  
Vol 24 (4) ◽  
pp. 709-721 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jiawei Feng ◽  
Jianzhong Fu ◽  
Zhiwei Lin ◽  
Ce Shang ◽  
Bin Li
Keyword(s):  
Additive Manufacturing ◽  
Computer Aided Design ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Geometrical Properties ◽  
Direct Slicing ◽  
Spline Surface ◽  
Spline Surfaces ◽  
Complex Models ◽  
Aided Design ◽  
Design And Manufacture

Purpose T-spline is the latest powerful modeling tool in the field of computer-aided design. It has all the merits of non-uniform rational B-spline (NURBS) whilst resolving some flaws in it. This work applies T-spline surfaces to additive manufacturing (AM). Most current AM products are based on Stereolithograph models. It is a kind of discrete polyhedron model with huge amounts of data and some inherent defects. T-spline offers a better choice for the design and manufacture of complex models. Design/methodology/approach In this paper, a direct slicing algorithm of T-spline surfaces for AM is proposed. Initially, a T-spline surface is designed in commercial software and saved as a T-spline mesh file. Then, a numerical method is used to directly calculate all the slicing points on the surface. To achieve higher manufacturing efficiency, an adaptive slicing algorithm is applied according to the geometrical properties of the T-spline surface. Findings Experimental results indicate that this algorithm is effective and reliable. The quality of AM can be enhanced at both the designing and slicing stages. Originality/value The T-spline and direct slicing algorithm discussed here will be a powerful supplement to current technologies in AM.

Labelling additively manufactured parts by microstructural gradation – advanced copy-proof design

2016 ◽  
Vol 22 (4) ◽  
pp. 630-635 ◽  
Author(s):  
Thomas Niendorf ◽  
Florian Brenne ◽  
Mirko Schaper ◽  
Andre Riemer ◽  
Stefan Leuders ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Magnetic Properties ◽  
Additive Manufacturing ◽  
Eddy Current ◽  
Computer Aided Design ◽  
Current Method ◽  
Eddy Current Method ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Current Technique ◽  
Manufacturing Techniques ◽  
Electro Magnetic

Purpose As additive manufacturing techniques, such as selective laser melting, allow for straightforward production of parts on basis of simple computer-aided design files only, unauthorized replication can be facilitated. Thus, identification and tracking of individual parts are increasingly vital in light of globalized competition. This paper aims to overcome the susceptibility of additive manufacturing techniques for product piracy by establishing a method for introducing and reading out product identification markers not visible by naked-eye inspection. Design/methodology/approach Lasers of different nominal power were used for altering the solidification mechanisms during processing in distinct areas of the samples. The resulting local microstructural characteristics and mechanical properties, respectively, were determined by scanning electron microscopy and hardness measurements. The applicability of an advanced eddy current technique for reading out local differences in electro-magnetic properties was examined. Findings The findings show that distinct microstructural features are obtained in dependence of the locally applied laser power. These features manifest themselves not only in terms of grain morphology, texture and hardness but also induce changes in the local electro-magnetic properties. The inscribed pattern can be non-destructively visualized by using an advanced eddy current technique. Originality/value Conventional copy protection basically consists in supplementary labelling or surface modification. In the present study, a new method is proposed for additively manufactured parts, overcoming the drawbacks of the former methods through process-induced microstructure manipulation. Slight alterations in the electro-magnetic material properties can be detected by advanced eddy current method allowing for identification of arbitrary and inimitable component information in additively manufactured parts.

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