A design framework for additive manufacturing

Abstract

Additive manufacturing (AM) is one of the fastest growing and most promising manufacturing technologies, offering significant advantages over conventional manufacturing processes. That is, the geometrical flexibility that leads to increased design freedom is not infinite as the numerous AM processes impose manufacturing limitations. Abiding by these manufacturability rules implies a backpropagation of AM knowledge to all design phases for a successful build. A catholic AM-driven design framework is needed to ensure full exploitation of the AM design capabilities. The current framework is based on the definition of the CAD aspects and the AM process parameters. Their dependence, affection to the resulted part, and weight on the total process determine the outcome. The AM-driven design framework prevents manufacturing issues of certain geometries, that can be effortlessly created by conventional manufacturing, and additionally exploits the full design-freedom potentials AM has to offer with a linear design flow reducing design iterations and ultimately achieving first time right AM design process.