Topology optimization for multipatch fused deposition modeling 3D printing

Abstract

This paper presents a hybrid topology optimization method for multipatch fused deposition modeling (FDM) 3D printing to address the process-induced material anisotropy. The 'multipatch' concept consists of each printing layer disintegrated into multiple patches with different zigzag-type filament deposition directions. The level set method was employed to represent and track the layer shape evolution; discrete material optimization (DMO) model was adopted to realize the material property interpolation among the patches. With this set-up, a concurrent optimization problem was formulated to simultaneously optimize the topological structure of the printing layer, the multipatch distribution, and the corresponding deposition directions. An asynchronous starting strategy is proposed to prevent the local minimum solutions caused by the concurrent optimization scheme. Several numerical examples were investigated to verify the effectiveness of the proposed method, while satisfactory optimization results have been derived.