Fluid Flow-inspired Curvature-aware Print-paths from Hexahedral Meshes for Additive Manufacturing

Cam S., Günpınar E.

CAD Computer Aided Design, vol.159, 2023 (SCI-Expanded) identifier

  • Publication Type: Article / Article
  • Volume: 159
  • Publication Date: 2023
  • Doi Number: 10.1016/j.cad.2023.103500
  • Journal Name: CAD Computer Aided Design
  • Journal Indexes: Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), Scopus, Academic Search Premier, Aerospace Database, Applied Science & Technology Source, Communication Abstracts, Computer & Applied Sciences, INSPEC, Metadex, zbMATH, DIALNET, Civil Engineering Abstracts
  • Keywords: Fluid flow, Hexahedral mesh, Multi-axis additive manufacturing, Print-paths
  • Istanbul Technical University Affiliated: Yes

Abstract

Thanks to recent improvements, computational methods are able to produce high-quality hexahedral meshes, whose hexahedrons are arranged along the principal curvature directions of the input surfaces. Curvature-aware print-paths following these curvature directions have been recently proposed by Gunpinar and enable reduction in stair-stepping effect in the printed parts. However, crosswise contacts can exist between the print-paths (i.e., print-paths are quasi-perpendicular to each other), which is undesirable as failures may occur particularly at those contact regions. Therefore, the present work aims at generation of curvature-aware print-paths without crosswise contacts between them. To solve this problem, we inspire from fluid flow and imitate (laminar) streamlines for an inlet and an outlet of a duct for designing print-paths. A hexahedral mesh is decomposed into blocks (cuboid-like sub-volumes), each of which is covered with fluid flow-inspired print-paths. A multi-axis (collision-free) additive manufacturing (AM) planning technique is also proposed. As a proof of concept, fluid flow-inspired curvature-aware print-paths are validated using a multi-axis AM simulator and machine.