Title: Optimum strategies for hollowing and part orientation in additive manufacturing

Authors: Amar Phatak; S.S. Pande

Addresses: Mechanical Engineering Department, Indian Institute of Technology Bombay, Powai, Mumbai 400076, India ' Mechanical Engineering Department, Indian Institute of Technology Bombay, Powai, Mumbai 400076, India

Abstract: This paper reports algorithms for hollowing and optimally orienting CAD models of parts to be produced by SLS, additive manufacturing (AM) process. Hollowing strategies such as 2D hollowing, 3D hollowing with and without mesh simplification and with auto filling have been developed and compared. Optimum orientation for the part fabrication is obtained using genetic algorithm (GA)-based strategy using fitness function of process performance parameters such as build height, part quality and volume of part material. A new approach integrating design of experiments and GA techniques has been proposed in this work to assign weightages to process performance parameters in the fitness function. The paper presents, in detail, the design philosophy and algorithms implemented in the system with results for some typical case studies. The proposed strategy will significantly contribute to improving productivity, part quality and economy for the AM process.

Keywords: rapid prototyping; hollowing; design of experiments; DOE; genetic algorithms; part orientation; additive manufacturing; CAD models; SLS; selective laser sintering; mesh simplification; auto filling; build height; part quality; meterial volume.

DOI: 10.1504/IJPTECH.2016.074182

International Journal of Precision Technology, 2016 Vol.6 No.1, pp.61 - 77

Received: 16 Apr 2015
Accepted: 11 Jul 2015
Published online: 14 Jan 2016 *

Full-text access for editors Full-text access for subscribers Purchase this article Comment on this article