3D Printing of Parts with Intra-Layer Variable Density

Abstract:

3D Printing can be considered as one of the most innovative manufacturing processes of our time. Part of the innovative potential of 3D Printing is associated with the production of geometrically complex parts in a relatively short time. In the present paper, a methodology for the production of parts with complex internal structure and intra-layer density variability (ILDV) is presented. The proposed methodology may be used to produce structures composed by two materials, such as functionally graded parts and composites. The variability of the internal structure and composition is captured through voxel modeling, where at each voxel a unique relative density value for each material is assigned. These relative density values are then translated to predefined extrusion paths, which the 3D printer follows for the construction of layers composed by one or two materials. Representative cases and examples of parts with ILDV are presented and discussed.

• Periodical: Key Engineering Materials (Volume 799)
• Pages: 288-293
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.4028/www.scientific.net/KEM.799.288
• Online since: April 2019
• Authors: Angelos Vassilakos*, John Giannatsis, Vasilios Dedousis
• Keywords: 3D Printing, Fused Deposition Modeling, Heterogeneous Structure, Variable Density, Voxel Modeling

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