Metal bellow hydroforming using additive manufactured die: a case study

2019 ◽  
Vol 25 (4) ◽  
pp. 765-774 ◽  
Author(s):  
Prithvirajan R. ◽  
Sugavaneswaran M. ◽  
Sathishkumar N. ◽  
Arumaikkannu G.

Purpose Custom-designed metal bellows require alternate ways to produce the die to shorten lead time. The purpose of this study is to explore the possibility of using Additive Manufactured (AM) polymer die as direct rapid tool (RT) for metal bellow hydroforming. Design/methodology/approach Finite element analysis (FEA) was used to simulate bellow forming and to evaluate the compatibility of AM die. Fused deposition modelling (FDM) technique is used to fabricate die with Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene (ABS) material. To validate, the width of the metal bellow convolutions obtained from the FEA simulation is compared with convolution formed during the experiment. Findings FDM-made die can be used for a short production run of bellow hydroforming. FEA simulation shows that stress developed in some regions of die is less and these regions have potential for material reduction. Use of RT for this particular application is limited by the die material, forming pressure, width, convolution span and material of bellow. This supports the importance of FEA validation of RT before fabrication to evaluate and redesign die for the successful outcome of the tool. Research limitations/implications The given methodology may be followed to design a RT with minimum material consumption for bellow forming application. Whenever there is a change in bellow design or the die material, simulation has to be done to evaluate the capability of the die. As this study was focused on a short production run for manufacturing one or few bellows, the die life is not a significant factor. Originality/value This paper demonstrates about rapid tooling for metal bellow manufacturing using FDM technique for low volume production. Further, FEA is used to identify low stress regions and redesign the die for material reduction before die manufacturing. AM die can be used for developing customized metal bellow for applications such as defense, aerospace, automobiles, etc.

2018 ◽  
Vol 24 (6) ◽  
pp. 921-934 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mohammad Abu Hasan Khondoker ◽  
Asad Asad ◽  
Dan Sameoto

Purpose This paper aims to target to print functionally gradient materials (FGM) devices made of immiscible polymers in multi-material fused deposition modelling (FDM) systems. The design is intended to improve adhesion of dissimilar thermoplastics without the need for chemical compatibilization so that filaments from many different sources can be used effectively. Therefore, there is a need to invent an alternative solution for printing multiple immiscible polymers in an FDM system with the desired adhesion. Design/methodology/approach In this study, the authors have developed a bi-extruder for FDM systems which can print two thermoplastics through a single nozzle with a static intermixer to enhance bonding between input materials. The system can also change the composition of extrudates continuously. Findings The uniqueness of this extruder is in its easy access to the internal channel so that a static intermixer can be inserted, enabling deposition of mechanically interlocked extrudates composed of two immiscible polymers. Without this intermixer, the bi-extruder extrudes with simple side-by-side co-extrusion having no mechanical interlocking. The bi-extruder was characterized by printing objects using pairs of materials including polylactic acid, acrylonitrile butadiene styrene and high impact polystyrene. Microscope images of the cross-sections of the extrudates confirm the ability of this bi-extruder to control the composition as desired. It was also found that the mechanically interlocked extrudates composed of two immiscible polymers substantially reduces adhesion failures within and between filaments. Originality/value In this study, the first-ever FDM extruder with a mechanical blending feature next to the nozzle has been designed and used to successfully print FGM objects with improved mechanical properties.


2020 ◽  
Vol 40 (5) ◽  
pp. 745-754
Author(s):  
Gurpartap Singh ◽  
Rupinder Singh ◽  
S.S. Bal

Purpose The purpose of this study is to investigate dimensional accuracy (Δd), surface roughness (Ra) and micro hardness (HV) of partial dentures (PD) prepared with synergic combination of fused deposition modelling (FDM) assisted chemical vapour smoothing (CVS) patterns and conventional dental casting (DC) from multi-factor optimization view point. Design/methodology/approach The master pattern for PD was prepared with acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) thermoplastic on FDM set-up (one of the low cost additive manufacturing process) followed by CVS process. The final PD as functional prototypes was casted with nickel–chromium-based (Ni-Cr) alloy by varying Ni% (Z). The other input parameters were powder to water ratio P/W (X) and pH value (Y) of water used. Findings The results of this study suggest that for controlling the Δd and Ra of the PD, most important factor is X, followed by Z. For hardness of PD, the most important factor is Z. But from overall optimization viewpoint, the best settings are X-100/12, Y-10 and Z-61% (in Ni-Cr alloy). Further, based upon X-bar chart (for HV), the FDM-assisted DC process used for preparation of PD is statistically controlled. Originality/value This study highlights that PD prepared with X-100/12, Y-10 and Z-61% gives overall better results from multi-factor optimization view point. Finally, X-bar chart has been plotted to understand the statistical nature of the synergic combination of FDM, CVS and DC.


2019 ◽  
Vol 2019 ◽  
pp. 1-11
Author(s):  
Michele Gabrio Antonelli ◽  
Pierluigi Beomonte Zobel ◽  
Francesco Durante ◽  
Terenziano Raparelli

This paper describes the results of research projects developed at the University of L’Aquila by the research group of the authors in the field of biomedical engineering, which have seen an important use of additive manufacturing technologies in the prototyping step and, in some cases, also for the realization of preindustrialization prototypes. For these projects, commercial 3D printers and technologies such as fused deposition modelling (FDM) were used; the most commonly used polymers in these technologies are acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) and polylactic acid (PLA). The research projects concern the development of innovative actuators, such as pneumatic muscles and soft pneumatic actuators (SPAs), the development of active orthoses, such as a lower limb orthosis and, finally, the development of a variable-stiffness grasper to be used in natural orifice transluminal endoscopic surgery (NOTES). The main aspects of these research projects are described in the paper, highlighting the technologies used such as the finite element analysis and additive manufacturing.


2020 ◽  
Vol 26 (10) ◽  
pp. 1733-1738
Author(s):  
André Luiz Alves Guimarães ◽  
Vicente Gerlin Neto ◽  
Cesar Renato Foschini ◽  
Maximiliano dos Anjos Azambuja ◽  
Luiz Antonio Vasques Hellmeister

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to investigate and discuss the influence of printing parameters on the mechanical properties of acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) print by fused deposition modelling (FDM). The mechanical properties of ABS are highly influenced by printing parameters, and they determine the final product quality of printed pieces. Design/methodology/approach For the paper’s purpose, five main parameters (extrusion temperature, infill pattern, air gap, printing speed and layer thickness) were selected and varied during ABS printing on an open-source and self-replicable FDM printer. Three different colors of commercially available ABS were also used to investigate color and printing parameter’s influence on the tensile strength. Findings The research results suggest that two parameters (infill pattern and layer thickness) were most influential on the mechanical properties of print ABS, being able to enhance its tensile strength. Another key influential factor was material color selected prior to printing, which influenced the tensile strength of the print specimen. Originality/value This study provides information on print parameters’ influence on the tensile strength of ABS print on replicable open-source three-dimensional (3D) printers. It also suggests the influence of materials’ color on print pieces’ tensile strength, indicating a new parameter for materials selection for 3D printing.


2019 ◽  
Vol 25 (1) ◽  
pp. 13-21
Author(s):  
Justin Favero ◽  
Sofiane Belhabib ◽  
Sofiane Guessasma ◽  
Hedi Nouri

Purpose Assembling items to achieve bigger parts seems to be the solution to counterbalance the dimension limits of 3D printing. This work aims to propose an approach to achieve optimal assembling. Design/methodology/approach Acrylonitrile butadiene styrene polymer samples were printed using fused deposition modelling (FDM). These samples were assembled and the precise contribution of interfacial shearing and tension was measured using simple tensile experiments. Findings The results achieved show the correlation between the printing orientation and the assembling angle. It could be proved that rupture by an interfacial decohesion mechanism of glued parts can be avoided by simple adaptation of the assembling junction. Practical implications Design of large parts using FDM is no more a limitation if assembling configurations are adapted based on the knowledge gained about the interfacial phenomena occurring at the junction position. Originality/value The unbalanced contribution of shearing and tension at the interface defines new assembling profiles that exclude flat junctions.


2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Hamed Adibi ◽  
Mohammad Reza Hashemi

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to investigate the variables of the fused deposition modelling (FDM) process and improve their effect on the mechanical properties of acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) components reinforced with copper microparticles. Design/methodology/approach In the experimental approach, after drying the ABS granule, it was mixed with copper microparticles (at concentrations of 5%, 8% and 10%) in a single screw extruder to fabricate pure ABS and composite filaments. Then, by making the components by the FDM process, the tensile strength of the parts was determined through tensile strength tests. Taguchi DOE method was used to design the experiments in which nozzle temperature, filling pattern and layer thickness were the design variables. The analysis of variance (ANOVA) and signal-to-noise analysis were conducted to determine the effectiveness of each FDM process parameter on the ultimate tensile strength of printed samples. Following that, the main effect analysis was used to optimize each process parameter for pure ABS and its composite at different copper contents. Findings The study allows the layer thickness and filling pattern had the highest effects on the ultimate tensile strength of the printed materials (pure and composite) in the FDM process. Moreover, the results show that the ultimate tensile strength of the ABS composite containing 5% copper was nearly 12.3% higher than the pure ABS part. According to validation tests, the maximum error of experiments was about 0.96%. Originality/value In this paper, the effect of copper microparticles (as filling agent) was investigated on the ultimate tensile strength of printed ABS material during the FDM process.


2018 ◽  
Vol 2 (2) ◽  
pp. 115-137 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ranvijay Kumar ◽  
Rupinder Singh ◽  
Ilenia Farina

Purpose Three-dimensional printing (3DP) is an established process to print structural parts of metals, ceramic and polymers. Further, multi-material 3DP has the potentials to be a milestone in rapid manufacturing (RM), customized design and structural applications. Being compatible as functionally graded materials in a single structural form, multi-material-based 3D printed parts can be applied in structural applications to get the benefit of modified properties. Design/methodology/approach The fused deposition modelling (FDM) is one of the established low cost 3DP techniques which can be used for printing functional/ non-functional prototypes in civil engineering applications. Findings The present study is focused on multi-material printing of primary recycled acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS), polylactic acid (PLA) and high impact polystyrene (HIPS) in composite form. Thermal (glass transition temperature and heat capacity) and mechanical properties (break load, break strength, break elongation, percentage elongation at break and Young’s modulus) have been analysed to observe the behaviour of multi-material composites prepared by 3DP. This study also highlights the process parameters optimization of FDM supported with photomicrographs. Originality/value The present study is focused on multi-material printing of primary recycled ABS, PLA and HIPS in composite form.


2020 ◽  
Vol 26 (9) ◽  
pp. 1525-1533 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jose Manuel Sierra ◽  
Jose Ignacio Rodríguez ◽  
Marta María Villazon ◽  
Jose Luis Cortizo ◽  
Maria del Rocio Fernandez

Purpose This paper aims to describe the development of an internal waste-collection device for patients who have undergone a colostomy or ileostomy. Its design is based on devices that have been produced by 3D printing with acrylonitrile butadiene styrene. The aim is to find an alternative to the external bags that these patients currently use and to evaluate the properties of the device produced by additive manufacturing. Design/methodology/approach Software for solid modelling has been used, and virtual models allow its visualization and animation, for evaluation, in a simple and fast way. Subsequently, functional prototypes have been developed by a multidisciplinary team, which includes surgeons and engineers, and have been tested to verify their mechanical properties and suitability for function. Findings The project has developed a functional design that has been patented and is in the clinical trials phase. This study demonstrates how 3D printing technologies are the perfect complement to accelerate the design process and build functional prototypes at low costs. The experimental tests regarding cytotoxicity, printing orientation, dynamic and static loads and temperature resistance have demonstrated the validity of the proposed device. Originality/value A device for internal pouch in colostomized patients has been designed, manufactured by fused deposition modelling and validated.


Author(s):  
Nor Aiman Sukindar ◽  
Azib Azhari Awang Dahan ◽  
Sharifah Imihezri Syed Shaharuddin ◽  
Nor Farah Huda Abd Halim

Abstract Fused Deposition Modelling (FDM) is an additive manufacturing (AM) process that produces a physical object directly from a CAD design using layer-by-layer deposition of the filament material that is extruded via a nozzle. In industry, FDM has become one of the most used AM processes for the production of low batch quantity and functional prototypes, due to its safety, efficiency, reliability, low cost, and ability to process manufacturing-grade engineering thermoplastic. Recently, the market is flooded with the availability of low-cost printers produced by numerous companies. This research aims to investigate the effect of different porosity levels on a scaffold structure produced using a low-cost 3D printer. Comparisons of these porous structures were made in terms of Von-Mises strain, total deformation, as well as compressive stress. Various porosity levels were created by varying printing parameters, including layer height, infill density, and shell thickness by slicing the initial solid CAD file using Repetier Host 3D printing software. Finite Element Analysis (FEA) simulation was then performed on the created scaffold structures by using Ansys Workbench 19.2. The simulation result indicates that the greater porosity level will result in higher total deformation of the structure. Meanwhile, the compression test shows that the minimum strength value obtained was favourable at 22 MPa and had exceeded that of the trabecular femur (15 MPa). However, its porosity level (maximum at 52%) was still below that of the minimum threshold of porosity level of 70 percent. However, the printing parameters currently used can be adjusted in the future. Therefore, it was deduced that the low-cost 3D printer offers promising potential to fabricate different porosity structures with multiple outcomes.


2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Wiktoria Maria Wojnarowska ◽  
Jakub Najowicz ◽  
Tomasz Piecuch ◽  
Michał Sochacki ◽  
Dawid Pijanka ◽  
...  

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.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document