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Wednesday, September 20, 2017 2:58:44 PM
Design for Additive Manufacturing: What Does That Really Mean?
At addaero-mfg.com - Design for Additive Manufacturing: What Does That Really Mean? - August 23, 2017
The introduction:
The story of designing for additive manufacturing (AM) is always told through eccentric geometries and topology optimization, but does it really have to be that complex? What is often misunderstood is that AM is primarily a tool to solve problems. Just because the technology allows for the design of extremely complex shapes does not mean it has be done. As with designing for any method of manufacturing, engineers must analyze their application and determine the most efficient solution. This blog will address the key design factors to consider when designing for AM by looking at an example part.
Addaero developed a rear housing for an Unmanned Underwater Vehicle (UUV) as a demonstration for the US Navy. The part was fabricated in the Arcam Q20+ EBM system using Ti6Al4V alloy and is approximately 13 inches tall by 10 inches across. It is a great example of both additive manufacturing for defense applications and additive manufacturing for marine environments. There are three key elements of design for AM in this example that are highlighted below.
Figure 1 UUV Housing As-Printed (EBM Ti6Al4V)
Figure 2 UUV Housing CAD Model with Supports (in blue)
Figure 3 UUV Housing Actuator Pockets. Left = Sectioned View. Right = Inside Concentric Feature
Figure 4 UUV Housing Internal Assembly (Color-coded)
At addaero-mfg.com - Design for Additive Manufacturing: What Does That Really Mean? - August 23, 2017
The introduction:
The story of designing for additive manufacturing (AM) is always told through eccentric geometries and topology optimization, but does it really have to be that complex? What is often misunderstood is that AM is primarily a tool to solve problems. Just because the technology allows for the design of extremely complex shapes does not mean it has be done. As with designing for any method of manufacturing, engineers must analyze their application and determine the most efficient solution. This blog will address the key design factors to consider when designing for AM by looking at an example part.
Addaero developed a rear housing for an Unmanned Underwater Vehicle (UUV) as a demonstration for the US Navy. The part was fabricated in the Arcam Q20+ EBM system using Ti6Al4V alloy and is approximately 13 inches tall by 10 inches across. It is a great example of both additive manufacturing for defense applications and additive manufacturing for marine environments. There are three key elements of design for AM in this example that are highlighted below.
Figure 1 UUV Housing As-Printed (EBM Ti6Al4V)
Figure 2 UUV Housing CAD Model with Supports (in blue)
Figure 3 UUV Housing Actuator Pockets. Left = Sectioned View. Right = Inside Concentric Feature
Figure 4 UUV Housing Internal Assembly (Color-coded)
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