Stress State of 3D-Printed Plastic Dies at Thin-Sheet Aluminum Bending

The paper deals with the problems and prospects of forming thin-sheet blanks, using ABS plastic dies, made by 3D printing. This technology combines the positive properties of plastic material and 3D-printing. The mechanical characteristics of the plastic were determined experimentally. On the basis of computer modeling, the dependence between the angle of bending the blank and the stresses arising in the dies is established. As a result of computer simulation and physical experiment, the value of the maximum thickness 0.5 mm for the aluminum 3003 blank is obtained. In this case, there is no plastic deformation of the plastic tool. The use of plastic dies does not require lubrication. The technology of sheet bending, using a plastic tool, can be implemented with the greatest efficiency in single and small-scale production.

Увеличение КПД концентраторных фотоэлектрических модулей при использовании фоконов в качестве вторичных оптических концентраторов

Concentrator photovoltaic module with Fresnel lenses as primary optical elements and focons made of sheet aluminum as the secondary optical concentrators has been developed. To enhance the efficiency of conversion of solar energy into electrical the optimal focon design have been determined and the photoelectric characteristics of a module with such focons investigated. Implementation of focons in module design allowed to increase acceptance angle of the latter from ±0.45% (without focons) up to ±0.85% (with focons) and to increase the efficiency from 29% to 32.8%.