Additive Manufacturing Constraints in Topology Optimization for Improved Manufacturability

Author(s):  
Kunal Mhapsekar ◽  
Matthew McConaha ◽  
Sam Anand

Additive manufacturing (AM) provides tremendous advantage over conventional manufacturing processes in terms of creative freedom, and topology optimization (TO) can be deemed as a potential design approach to exploit this creative freedom. To integrate these technologies and to create topology optimized designs that can be easily manufactured using AM, manufacturing constraints need to be introduced within the TO process. In this research, two different approaches are proposed to integrate the constraints within the algorithm of density-based TO. Two AM constraints are developed to demonstrate these two approaches. These constraints address the minimization of number of thin features as well as minimization of volume of support structures in the optimized parts, which have been previously identified as potential concerns associated with AM processes such as powder bed fusion AM. Both the manufacturing constraints are validated with two case studies each, along with experimental validation. Another case study is presented, which shows the combined effect of the two constraints on the topology optimized part. Two metrics of manufacturability are also presented, which have been used to compare the design outputs of conventional and constrained TO.

Author(s):  
Paul Witherell ◽  
Shaw Feng ◽  
Timothy W. Simpson ◽  
David B. Saint John ◽  
Pan Michaleris ◽  
...  

In this paper, we advocate for a more harmonized approach to model development for additive manufacturing (AM) processes, through classification and metamodeling that will support AM process model composability, reusability, and integration. We review several types of AM process models and use the direct metal powder bed fusion AM process to provide illustrative examples of the proposed classification and metamodel approach. We describe how a coordinated approach can be used to extend modeling capabilities by promoting model composability. As part of future work, a framework is envisioned to realize a more coherent strategy for model development and deployment.


2014 ◽  
Vol 1-4 ◽  
pp. 87-98 ◽  
Author(s):  
Haijun Gong ◽  
Khalid Rafi ◽  
Hengfeng Gu ◽  
Thomas Starr ◽  
Brent Stucker

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Adnen Mezghani

PurposeAn integral component in heat pipes (HPs) and vapor chambers (VCs) is a porous wicking structure. Traditional methods for manufacturing wicking structures within HPs and VCs involve secondary manufacturing processes and are generally limited to simple geometries. This work aims to leverage the unprecedented level of design freedom of laser powder bed fusion (LPBF) additive manufacturing (AM) to produce integrated wicking structures for HPs and VCs.Design/methodology/approachCopper wicking structures are fabricated through LPBF via partial sintering and via the formation of square, hexagonal and rectangular arrangements of micro-pins and micro-grooves, produced in multiple build directions. Wicks are characterized by conducting capillary performance analysis through the measurement of porosity, permeability and capillary rate-of-rise.FindingsCopper wicking structures were successfully fabricated with capillary performance, K/reff, ranging from 0.186–1.74 µm. The rectangular-arrangement micro-pin wick presented the highest performance.Originality/valueThis work represents the first published report on LPBF AM of copper wicking structures for HPs/VCs applications and represents foundational knowledge for fabricating complete assemblies of copper VCs and HPs through LPBF AM.


2021 ◽  
Vol 111 (06) ◽  
pp. 363-367
Author(s):  
Lukas Langer ◽  
Matthias Schmitt ◽  
Georg Schlick ◽  
Johannes Schilp

Die additive Fertigung ermöglicht komplexe Geometrien und individualisierte Bauteile. Die hohen Material- und Fertigungskosten können ein Hindernis für einen wirtschaftlichen Einsatz sein. In der hybriden additiven Fertigung werden die Vorteile konventioneller sowie additiver Fertigungsverfahren kombiniert. Für eine weitere Steigerung der Wirtschaftlichkeit und Effizienz werden nichtwertschöpfende Schritte der Prozesskette identifiziert und Automatisierungsansätze entwickelt.   Additive manufacturing enables complex geometries and individualized components. However, high material and manufacturing costs can be a hindrance for economical use. Hybrid additive manufacturing combines the advantages of conventional with additive manufacturing processes. For a further increase in profitability and efficiency, non-value-adding steps in the process chain are identified and automation approaches developed.


Materials ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 13 (17) ◽  
pp. 3895 ◽  
Author(s):  
Abbas Razavykia ◽  
Eugenio Brusa ◽  
Cristiana Delprete ◽  
Reza Yavari

Additive Manufacturing (AM) processes enable their deployment in broad applications from aerospace to art, design, and architecture. Part quality and performance are the main concerns during AM processes execution that the achievement of adequate characteristics can be guaranteed, considering a wide range of influencing factors, such as process parameters, material, environment, measurement, and operators training. Investigating the effects of not only the influential AM processes variables but also their interactions and coupled impacts are essential to process optimization which requires huge efforts to be made. Therefore, numerical simulation can be an effective tool that facilities the evaluation of the AM processes principles. Selective Laser Melting (SLM) is a widespread Powder Bed Fusion (PBF) AM process that due to its superior advantages, such as capability to print complex and highly customized components, which leads to an increasing attention paid by industries and academia. Temperature distribution and melt pool dynamics have paramount importance to be well simulated and correlated by part quality in terms of surface finish, induced residual stress and microstructure evolution during SLM. Summarizing numerical simulations of SLM in this survey is pointed out as one important research perspective as well as exploring the contribution of adopted approaches and practices. This review survey has been organized to give an overview of AM processes such as extrusion, photopolymerization, material jetting, laminated object manufacturing, and powder bed fusion. And in particular is targeted to discuss the conducted numerical simulation of SLM to illustrate a uniform picture of existing nonproprietary approaches to predict the heat transfer, melt pool behavior, microstructure and residual stresses analysis.


Author(s):  
Babis Schoinochoritis ◽  
Dimitrios Chantzis ◽  
Konstantinos Salonitis

This article provides a literature review of finite element simulation studies for metallic powder bed additive manufacturing processes. The various approaches in the numerical modeling of the processes and the selection of materials properties are presented in detail. Simulation results are categorized according to three major findings’ groups (i.e. temperature field, residual stresses and melt pool characteristics). Moreover, the means used for the experimental validation of the simulation findings are described. Looking deeper into the studies reviewed, a number of future directions are identified in the context of transforming simulation into a powerful tool for the industrial application of additive manufacturing. Smart modeling approaches should be developed, materials and their properties should be further characterized and standardized, commercial packages specialized in additive manufacturing simulation have to be developed and simulation needs to become part of the modern digital production chains. Finally, the reviewed studies are organized in a table and characterized according to the process and material studied, the modeling methodology and the experimental validation method used in each of them. The key findings of the reviewed studies are also summarized.


Author(s):  
Alok Sutradhar ◽  
Jaejong Park ◽  
Payam Haghighi ◽  
Jacob Kresslein ◽  
Duane Detwiler ◽  
...  

Topology optimization provides optimized solutions with complex geometries which are often not suitable for direct manufacturing without further steps or post-processing by the designer. There has been a recent progression towards linking topology optimization with additive manufacturing, which is less restrictive than traditional manufacturing methods, but the technology is still in its infancy being costly, time-consuming, and energy inefficient. For applications in automotive or aerospace industries, the traditional manufacturing processes are still preferred and utilized to a far greater extent. Adding manufacturing constraints within the topology optimization framework eliminates the additional design steps of interpreting the topology optimization result and converting it to viable manufacturable parts. Furthermore, unintended but inevitable deviations that occur during manual conversion from the topology optimized result can be avoided. In this paper, we review recent advances to integrate (traditional) manufacturing constraints in the topology optimization process. The focus is on the methods that can create manufacturable and well-defined geometries. The survey will discuss the advantages, limitations, and related challenges of manufacturability in topology optimization.


Author(s):  
Zongyue Fan ◽  
Hao Wang ◽  
Bo Li

Abstract We present a powder-scale meshfree direct numerical simulation (DNS) capability for the powder bed fusion (PBF) based additive manufacturing (AM) processes using the novel Hot Optimal Transportation Meshfree (HOTM) method. The HOTM method is an incremental Lagrangian meshfree computational framework for materials behaviors under extreme thermomechanical loading conditions, which combines the Optimal Transportation Meshfree (OTM) method and the variational thermomechanical constitutive updates. The realistic multi-layer powder bed geometry is modeled explicitly in the HOTM simulations based on experimental data. A phase-aware constitutive model is developed to predict the phase change and multiphase mixing during the PBF AM processes automatically. The governing equations including the linear momentum and energy conservation equations are solved for the multiphase flow simultaneously to predict the deformation, temperature and local state of the powder particles. The powder-scale DNS is employed to study the influence of various laser powers on the melt pool thermodynamics.


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