Fabrication sequence optimization for minimizing distortion in multi-axis additive manufacturing

Fabrication sequence optimization for minimizing distortion in multi-axis additive manufacturing

Wang, W. (Dalian University of Technology)
van Keulen, A. (TU Delft Mechanical Engineering)
Wu, J. (TU Delft Materials and Manufacturing)

Mechanical Engineering

2023

Additive manufacturing of metal parts involves phase transformations and high temperature gradients which lead to uneven thermal expansion and contraction, and, consequently, distortion of the fabricated components. The distortion has a great influence on the structural performance and dimensional accuracy, e.g., for assembly. It is therefore of critical importance to model, predict and, ultimately, reduce distortion. In this paper, we present a computational framework for fabrication sequence optimization to minimize distortion in multi-axis additive manufacturing (e.g., robotic wire arc additive manufacturing), in which the fabrication sequence is not limited to planar layers only. We encode the fabrication sequence by a continuous pseudo-time field, and optimize it using gradient-based numerical optimization. To demonstrate this framework, we adopt a computationally tractable yet reasonably accurate model to mimic the material shrinkage in metal additive manufacturing and thus to predict the distortion of the fabricated components. Numerical studies show that optimized curved layers can reduce distortion by orders of magnitude as compared to their planar counterparts.

Fabrication sequence
Multi-axis additive manufacturing
Process planning
Thermal distortion
Topology optimization
Wire arc additive manufacturing

http://resolver.tudelft.nl/uuid:c9b07a1f-57c3-47eb-84c0-81e51907f50a

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cma.2023.115899

0045-7825

Computer Methods in Applied Mechanics and Engineering, 406

Institutional Repository

journal article

© 2023 W. Wang, A. van Keulen, J. Wu