A Preference-Based Approach to Assess a Component’s Design Readiness for Additive Manufacturing

2020 ◽  
Vol 142 (8) ◽  
Author(s):  
Seyedeh Elaheh Ghiasian ◽  
Prakhar Jaiswal ◽  
Rahul Rai ◽  
Kemper Lewis
Keyword(s):  
Decision Support ◽  
Additive Manufacturing ◽  
Experimental Validation ◽  
Economic Benefits ◽  
Economic Feasibility ◽  
Feasibility Analysis ◽  
Component Design ◽  
Subtractive Manufacturing ◽  
Preference Models

Abstract Due to the benefits associated with additive manufacturing (AM), there are increasingly more opportunities to leverage AM to enable the fabrication of components that were previously made using conventional techniques such as subtractive manufacturing or casting. To support this transition, it is critical to be able to rigorously evaluate the technical and economic feasibility of additively manufacturing an existing component design. In order to support this evaluation, this paper presents a novel feasibility analysis that performs a multi-criteria assessment of AM readiness. Along with the development of these assessments, we also present a novel scoring approach for qualitatively and quantitatively evaluating the feasibility of each component assessment. This scoring approach, which leverages preference models from physical programing, introduces a flexible set of feasibility levels to assess the manufacturability capabilities of AM technologies. It also allows for the integration of a designer’s preferences toward the AM assessments, supporting the decision whether to utilize AM technologies or not. The presented feasibility analysis allows for both technical and economic benefits since it suggests only using AM for those products whose feasibility results are within suitable ranges. The details of the approach are illustrated using four sample parts with varying geometries. Experimental validation is also performed to demonstrate the robustness of the evaluation. Results obtained show the capability and generalizability of these approaches to analyze intricate geometries and provide useful decision support in AM feasibility analysis.

From Conventional to Additive Manufacturing: Determining Component Fabrication Feasibility

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Seyedeh Elaheh Ghiasian ◽  
Prakhar Jaiswal ◽  
Rahul Rai ◽  
Kemper Lewis
Keyword(s):  
Additive Manufacturing ◽  
Economic Feasibility ◽  
The Core ◽  
Industrial Grade ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Subtractive Manufacturing ◽  
Continuous Objects ◽  
Manufacturing Techniques ◽  
Primary Assessment ◽  
Core Functionality

The use of additive manufacturing (AM) for fabricating industrial grade components has increased significantly in recent years. Numerous industrial entities are looking to leverage new AM techniques to enable fabrication of components that were typically manufactured previously using conventional manufacturing techniques such as subtractive manufacturing or casting. Therefore, it is becoming increasingly important to be able to rigorously evaluate the technical and economic feasibility of additively manufacturing a component relative to conventional alternatives. In order to support this evaluation, this paper presents a framework that investigates fabrication feasibility for AM from three perspectives: geometric evaluation, build orientation/support generation, and resources necessary (i.e., cost and time). The core functionality of the framework is enabled on voxelized model representation, discrete and binary formats of 3D continuous objects. AM fabrication feasibility analysis is applied to 34 various parts representing a wide range of manifolds and valves manufactured using conventional manufacturing techniques, components commonly found in the aerospace industry. Results obtained illustrate the capability and generalizability of the framework to analyze intricate geometries and provide a primary assessment for the feasibility of the AM process.

Assessing desalination as a sustainable alternative using a multiple criteria decision support model

2008 ◽  
Vol 3 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
M. B. Fernandes ◽  
M. C. Almeida ◽  
A. G. Henriques
Keyword(s):  
Decision Support ◽  
Energy Production ◽  
Fossil Fuels ◽  
Cost Benefit Analysis ◽  
Cost Benefit ◽  
High Energy ◽  
Economic Benefits ◽  
Multiple Criteria ◽  
Water Production ◽  
Decision Support Model

Desalination technologies provide an alternative for potable water production, having significant potential for application where fresh water scarcity exists. Potential benefits have to be balanced with other factors, such as high costs, high energy consumption, and significant environmental impacts, for the understanding of real risks and gains of desalination within the context of integrated water resources management. Multiple factors can be considered when analysing the viability of a desalination project but often a limited approach is used. The complexity in the analysis lies in finding the alternatives that obey to multiple objectives (e.g. reduced environmental impact, social acceptance, less cost associated). In this paper, development of a methodology based on multiple criteria decision support system for the evaluation and ranking the potential of desalination technologies is described and applied to a Portuguese case study. Relevant factors to the selection of desalination technologies were identified using SWOT analysis and the MACBETH (Measuring Attractiveness by a Categorical Based Evaluation Technique) approach was applied. Technical alternatives considered include reverse osmosis and multi-effect desalination (MED), together with energy production by fossil fuels or solar energy. Production of water by conventional approaches was also considered. Results, for non-economic benefits, show higher score for MED solar but, in the cost-benefit analysis, conventional methods of water production have higher ranking since costs of renewable energies are not yet competitive. However, even if not preferred in economic terms, desalination is ranked significantly above the conventional approaches for non-economic criteria.

scholarly journals Microgrid as a Cost-Effective Alternative to Rural Network Underground Cabling for Adequate Reliability

Energies ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 11 (8) ◽  
pp. 1978 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sanna Uski ◽  
Erkka Rinne ◽  
Janne Sarsama
Keyword(s):  
Case Studies ◽  
Power Supply ◽  
Dairy Farm ◽  
Cost Effective ◽  
Distribution Networks ◽  
Comparison Method ◽  
Economic Benefits ◽  
Economic Feasibility ◽  
Cost Calculation ◽  
Islanded Operation

Microgrids can be used for securing the supply of power during network outages. Underground cabling of distribution networks is another effective but conventional and expensive alternative to enhance the reliability of the power supply. This paper first presents an analysis method for the determination of microgrid power supply adequacy during islanded operation and, second, presents a comparison method for the overall cost calculation of microgrids versus underground cabling. The microgrid power adequacy during a rather long network outage is required in order to indicate high level of reliability of the supply. The overall cost calculation considers the economic benefits and costs incurred, combined for both the distribution network company and the consumer. Whereas the microgrid setup determines the islanded-operation power adequacy and thus the reliability of the supply, the economic feasibility results from the normal operations and services. The methods are illustrated by two typical, and even critical, case studies in rural distribution networks: an electric-heated detached house and a dairy farm. These case studies show that even in the case of a single consumer, a microgrid option could be more economical than network renovation by underground cabling of a branch in order to increase the reliability.

Waste management studies in a Brazilian microregion: GHG emissions balance and LFG energy project economic feasibility analysis

2018 ◽  
Vol 19 ◽  
pp. 31-43 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bruno Vasconcelos Rosa Pin ◽  
Regina Mambeli Barros ◽  
Electo Eduardo Silva Lora ◽  
Ivan Felipe Silva dos Santos
Keyword(s):  
Waste Management ◽  
Ghg Emissions ◽  
Economic Feasibility ◽  
Feasibility Analysis

Design for Additive Manufacturing in the Cloud Platform

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yuanbin Wang ◽  
Robert Blache ◽  
Xun Xu
Keyword(s):  
Knowledge Management ◽  
Decision Support ◽  
Additive Manufacturing ◽  
Full Advantage ◽  
New Technologies ◽  
Design Stage ◽  
Design For Additive Manufacturing ◽  
Cloud Platform ◽  
Am Processes

Additive manufacturing (AM) has experienced a phenomenal expansion in recent years and new technologies and materials rapidly emerge in the market. Design for Additive Manufacturing (DfAM) becomes more and more important to take full advantage of the capabilities provided by AM. However, most people still have limited knowledge to make informed decisions in the design stage. Therefore, an interactive DfAM system in the cloud platform is proposed to enable people sharing the knowledge in this field and guide the designers to utilize AM efficiently. There are two major modules in the system, decision support module and knowledge management module. A case study is presented to illustrate how this system can help the designers understand the capabilities of AM processes and make rational decisions.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document