Hexagon MI MSC AM Ebook A4 W
Hexagon MI MSC AM Ebook A4 W
Hexagon MI MSC AM Ebook A4 W
Smarter 3D Printing
First Time Right by Design
Authors:
Hendrik Schafstall
Roger Assaker
Volker Mensing
Bridge the Gap Between
Design and Manufacturing
MSC Apex Generative Design is a radically new, fully automated
generative design solution built on the most intuitive CAE
environment in the world, MSC Apex. It exploits all the easy-to-use
and easy-to-learn features of MSC Apex while employing the most
innovative generative design engine in the background.
Bridging the Gap Between Design and 05 Optimize the Product Part, Not Just the 26
Additive Manufacturing Using Smart Geometry- A Real World End2End
Generative Design Additive Manufacturing Solution
- Hendrik Schafstall and Raj Dua - Dr. Hendrik Schafstall
This e-book features some insightful commentary on the state of the additive
manufacturing industry and some of the dominant trends. In addition, it also
includes some compelling case studies that demonstrate the scope and range of
applications for simulation in additive manufacturing.
Today’s AM technology offers some major advantages, such as geometry design freedom that allows the
creation of optimized shapes according to the targeted function. Another key benefit of using 3D printing
technologies is the ability to reduce the weight, cost, and complexity of parts production without sacrificing
the reliability and durability of materials. AM affords the advantage of small production runs with less
material waste, significant energy cost savings, and the possibility to produce functional, high performance
parts that simply can’t be subtractively manufactured, cast or formed.
You can read about how engineers in Robert Bosch India are employing the Simufact Additive product from
MSC Software to model the additive manufacturing (AM) metal build process and subsequent
post-processing steps to help eliminate design errors before committing to AM. Similarly, there are use cases
from MBFZ Toolcraft, Ampower, Safran, Samara University, and Solvay, on various facets of additive
manufacturing. [each article can have separate three bullet points] on pages after foreword, or a short
summary which I have already included here].
The articles in this e-book also touch upon the concept of Generative Design that helps customers engineer
concepts unimaginable by the human mind and how this plays a role in enhancing the potential of additive
manufacturing.
As Additive Manufacturing becomes increasingly mainstream, this e-book intends to serve as a useful
compendium of useful insights on the role of simulation in additive manufacturing.
W
ith the release of MSC Apex Generative Design, MSC Software is
now offering an entire digital solution from the design to the final
validated part for all materials. Connecting design solutions like MSC
Apex Generative Design to virtual manufacturing simulation with What is
Digimat AM or Simufact Additive, the design can account for the Generative Design?
engineering and production phase challenges earlier in the product development phase.
As a digital twin, the virtual manufacturing simulation is used to identify the best printing Simply stated, Generative Design is a
process and to optimize the orientation of the part and the build process. Furthermore, process of automatically generating
the outcome of the additive manufacturing process chain can be used for the validation several design concepts that satisfy
of the “real” geometry, while accounting for the residual stress distribution and the local a set of user defined objectives,
deformation under real load conditions using MSC Software’s design validation solutions criteria, and constraints. Generative
such as MSC Nastran or Marc. The end-to-end process enables engineers to make sure Design can be accomplished in
their optimized designs are validated for manufacturability and performance. many ways depending on what
criteria and constraints have been
defined by the user. For example,
if a user defines a set of structural
loads and boundary conditions
that a part must withstand as
criteria, an upper stress limit as
a constraint, and an objective of
MSC Apex minimizing mass, a method known
Generative Design as Topology Optimization (which
many of our MSC Nastran users
are very familiar with) can be used
to generate a number of design
concepts that satisfy the given
criteria and constraints. However,
Generative Design is more than just
Topology Optimization. For instance,
a user may want to know what the
best way is to package a number
of electronic components in a given
space in order to minimize the
gap between all the components.
Generative Design can help answer
that question. For MSC Software
and Hexagon, Generative Design
is an initiative to provide a tool to
our design customers that will truly
act as a companion and help them
think of design concepts that are
unimaginable by human mind.
manner ensures that the design process is as possible while keeping into account the full potential and benefits of AM, users
not a bottleneck and thus allows our users the boundary conditions, constraints and need to be able to produce designs that
to make decisions solely based on design optimization goal. Thus, several design are specifically validated for AM. With MSC
criteria. Only a complete examination of the candidates are produced and directly Apex Generative Design, we are developing
design space with a variety of results, and in verified in the background using Simufact technologies that validate manufacturability
a short time, leads to the best results. Additive for metals or Digimat AM for in the Generative Design process. As such,
plastic products. While selecting the right the optimization engine only produces
candidate and iterating the manufacturing geometry candidates that have been
Demonstrating The Potential simulation, the perfect design in terms validated for AM.
of manufacturability, weight and costs is
To bring evidence on the potential of MSC selected. As a last step in the virtual world, Finally, after printing the part with your 3D
Apex Generative Design and to show this design finally gets a last validation printer of choice, Hexagon metrology’s
its usability, a wheel carrier of a formula with MSC Nastran for FE qualification state-of-the-art scanners can verify the
student team is considered to demonstrate and back again in Adams to ensure the accuracy of the simulations and compare
a use case. Due to its very complex load correct stiffness and behavior in the overall the “as-built” part to the “as-designed”
cases and a high demand on lightweight assembly. Thus, an optimal design was part. This allows for genuine “First Time
design, it is the perfect fit for demonstration. found that was printed and successfully Right” 3D printing. Time and cost are two
Furthermore, there is a lot of experience used in this year’s formula student season. of the major constraints in wide adoption of
in optimizing this part, as this race series AM today. Typically, with MSC Software’s
officially is an engineering competition that Generative Design solution we find that we
requires to develop a new race car each Summary and Conclusions can cut the time and cost of simulations
year. Other MSC tools such as Adams and by x10. Furthermore, most importantly,
MSC Nastran have been used for this part MSC Software’s MSC Apex Generative with our bridge to manufacturing, we find
in the past for optimization. Design is bridging the gap between design that we can get closer to “First Time Right”
and additive manufacturing. Additive 3D printing. MSC Apex Generative Design
As shown in Figure 3, the development Manufacturing has come a long way technology is here to make the design and
process starts with retrieving the loads by since its inception and is changing the development for AM smarter and more
a multi body simulation based on Adams manufacturing landscape. In order to realize sustainable.
Car. Hereby, the overall suspension is
engineered, including all coordinates for
the connection points, as well as the acting Read an overview in our
forces. This information is used to set
up the optimization model and define its
goals. Therefore, a “design space” as big
Read an Overview in our Previous Issue for More
as possible is added (shown as translucent
Information on Hexagon and MSC’s End-to-End Solution:
material). In this case the overall inner space
www.mscsoftware.com/Engineering-Reality-Summer-2019
of the rim minus the installation space for
wishbones and braking system is selected.
Running the optimization, this material
in the design space is reduced as much
T
his article focuses on the design optimization of complex 3D composites
structures made by additive manufacturing processes.
Today, more and more CFRP structures are manufactured by automated processes such
as fiber placement robotic systems (Figure 1).
The design trade-off analysis can be done on a simplified quasi-isotropic laminate (with full
plies), in order to just analyze the surface curvature impact, independently of plies shape.
But thickness effects, material excess, staggering rule, part productivity rate, could not be
correctly estimated.
The engineering and manufacturing requirements may quickly interfere, and a difficult
compromise between feasibility, strength and cost needs to be found, especially with
double-curved layup surfaces.
composite layup
command cards Figure 4: Thickness map analysis
(quasi-isotropic laminate) with tow gaps
manufactured
fiber orientation
for each ply.
Figure 5: Local stress field per ply and effect of gaps computed by Digimat©
Flexibility
Through Additive Manufacturing:
How Simulation Supports
3D Prototyping
M
BFZ toolcraft GmbH require the component to have a long service process suitable for series production.
from Georgensgmünd life and high wear resistance so that it can However, before a new blade geometry
in Middle Franconia withstand mechanical and thermal loads. can be used with the required properties,
has optimized together many tests are required for which
with its software partner prototypes or small batches of blades are
Simufact Engineering from Hamburg the From Prototype to Series / required. In exceptional cases - depending
additive production of a turbine wheel Take a View On Manufacturing on the number of parts required - the
from ABB Turbo Systems AG. Typically, and Its Challenges in Serial turbine blades required for testing can
these components can be found in drive Manufacturing also be produced by casting in very small
units of heavy machines and vehicles, series. In general, these processes are
such as diesel locomotives, off-highway Filigree blade geometries are typically very time-consuming and cost-intensive
trucks or dump trucks. Depending on the produced by casting processes as and therefore not much more than two
application, manufacturers an economical and robust production prototypes are available to develop the
final product for use in series turbines. Due to component geometry and thermal
At this point, additive manufacturing has stress, high stresses occur during the
become a key technology that saves time building process. This is due to the special
and money. Furthermore, the technology features of the geometry, which on the one
offers a maximum flexibility, one of the hand has a solid core with a lot of material
most important requirements in the field and volume, while on the other hand the
of prototyping. With the help of this blades are very filigree. As a result, there
innovative manufacturing process, a are large cross-sectional changes in the
variety of turbine blades can be produced component, which favour the residual
in a very short time, which ultimately stresses during the manufacturing
leads to a better product. This is where process. These in turn result in a high
MBFZ toolcraft‘s high manufacturing susceptibility to distortion.
competence throughout the entire value-
added chain in turbine blade production MBFZ toolcraft solves this problem with
proves its worth. Within the framework of a careful simulation-based as-is analysis
the cooperation between MBFZ toolcraft in which critical areas are identified. From
and ABB Turbo Systems AG, the products this, the necessary measures can then
can be designed and implemented as 3D be derived to counteract the distortion
printing right from the start. problem. This includes the development
of suitable support structures that
generally minimize distortion and thus
Simulation Provides Reliable ensure a safe construction process. But
Information on Distortion and the ideal alignment of the components
Stresses in the Component to be printed on the base plate can also
be very helpful in individual cases. The
For MBFZ toolcraft, the greatest challenge last step is an automated compensation
in manufacturing prototypes is maintaining of the remaining distortion based on a
the required tolerances and dimensional quantitative distortion analysis, with which
Image 1: Simulation helps to reduce component
accuracy. The decisive factor here is the the remaining distortion is determined. The distortion and thus to keep tight tolerances.
component distortion caused by the AM results obtained in this way can be used
process. In order to keep the distortions as to derive the print preparation. Thanks to
low as possible, MBFZ toolcraft relies on the simulation, MBFZ toolcraft achieves a
Simufact Additive. By using the user-friendly low-distortion component structure and
and process-oriented simulation solution, can thus remain to its “ first-time-right“
MBFZ toolcraft makes it possible to approach - to fulfil all requirements on
significantly minimize distortions by means the component with the first print. The
of suitable process parameters and to use of additive manufacturing enables
compensate where they cannot be avoided. MBFZ toolcraft to react flexibly and quickly
In this way, MBFZ toolcraft can meet all to customer requests, such as design
required tolerances, thus eliminating the changes, and thus to significantly reduce
need for time-consuming reworking. project lead times. The virtual engineering
offered by the powerful simulation solution
enables significantly tighter processes in
Problems and Challenges in the process development of 3D printing
the Building Process projects. This approach can be realized
through the reliable software Simufact
Image 2: From design to simulation to the
A closer look at the building process clearly Additive. finished component – less distortions thanks
reveals the challenges and problems. to Simufact Additive.
US Army Use of
MaterialCenter for
Metals Additive
Manufacturing Data
Management
T
he United States Army Combat Capabilities Development Command (CCDC)
Armaments Center is the US Army’s primary research and development arm
for armament and munitions systems. It is a leading defense facility for Additive
Manufacturing (AM) of Metals and is located in New Jersey. Armaments Center
has been investigating AM for a number of years now with programs aimed at
exploiting the novel capabilities of additive manufacturing. The facility has a number of AM
systems at their disposal including a laser powder bed fusion EOS M290 machine that prints
in Steel (4340/4140/17-4), Inconel, and Cobalt Chrome; and an E-Beam system, an ARCAM
A2X machine that prints in Titanium, Inconel, and Cobalt Chrome. In addition, there is access
to a wide range of support and testing equipment for powder synthesis (Plasma Reactors,
High Energy Mills), post processing (HIP, Heat Treatment, Surface Finishing), machining in
a full machine shop (EDM, CNC, etc.), testing (Tensile, Charpy Impact, Hardness), and part
characterization (Scanning Electron Microscopy, Particle Size Analysis, X-Ray Fluorescence &
Diffraction, Oxygen/Nitrogen Analysis).
Figure 2: Metals AM Build Examples for the US Army at CCDC Armaments Center
AM Benchmark Results and • Equipment chosen included an will occur. Complex data sets can be
Lessons Learned EOSM290, ProX320, SLM, and the generated from even a single build.
EOSM280 Hence, data storage solutions are needed
The tests indicated that parts printed • 4340 steel powder was procured from where process monitoring solutions
in the XY direction had 12% higher a single lot to minimize variance require large file storage spaces and
elongation values than parts built in the Z • A manufacturing guide was written bandwidth. In effect, AM processing
direction. Ultimate Tensile Strength (UTS), and disseminated to all participants pedigrees are required. There is a need
Density, and Hardness values matched outlining all major aspects of the for historical records of print builds to
wrought steel properties. The parts manufacturing process exist for data tracking and analysis to
printed at Location 2 (top left of Figure • The aim of this round robin test relate back to field performance without
5) had the lowest mechanical properties was to observe variance in material duplicating efforts, allowing teams to learn
(~9% less) of all builds. Build locations 2 properties as a function of orientation from mistakes or successes. To do all this
and 4 had Z oriented tensile data with the and plate location across equivalent raises big questions over IT infrastructure
lowest values (see table in Figure 6). This and different equipment types, with issues. If there is no uniform software and
was because gas flow worsened when the same or equivalent process network system across different branches
the machine’s filters were nearly full. In parameters. and centers, then it will be difficult for
addition, many AM process conditions approvals and data sharing to happen
needed to be taken into account such as with additively manufactured parts.
powder coverage, build plate material/ AM Engineering Simulation
condition, recirculating gas filtration, Digital Data Storage Challenges
gas flow rates, part orientation, and part MSC’s MaterialCenter as the
location on the underlying build plate and In particular, given the sensitive nature of AM Data Management Solution
these parameters must be controlled military parts, data security is critical in AM at CCDC Armaments Center
for consistent AM part mechanical – how is digital data adequately protected
properties. Hence, a manufacturing in additive manufacturing? How is data To overcome digital data challenges of
plan with defined operating windows is sharing implemented especially if different additive manufacturing, a software solution
needed to ensure parts are consistently network security protocols exist, where is necessary for traceability, storage,
made to specification. cloud-based solutions are not widely and analysis of simulation material data.
adopted? Moreover, in terms of data Armaments Center used MSC Software’s
classification where data aggregation could MaterialCenter (Figure 8) and developed
The Effect on the AM raise the classification, there is a need for an additive manufacturing schema to
Benchmark Tests on Using a controlled system. Invariably, different enable the storage of all printer machine
Different Machine Types formats occur across a wide variety of parameters along with corresponding
OEM machines for metals AM with no material properties. It utilizes M/S Excel
To check for the effect of different additive standardized software or file format. integration in order to map and import
machines, six AM commercial machines custom templates. The data collected is:
were chosen to print the same parts in a In terms of data organization, a unified file
“round robin” demonstration of variability structure does not in general exist. With • Machine Information
(see Figure 7): AM, large amounts of data generation • Part Data (CAD/STL/MAGICS Files)
Figure 11: PTC Windchill and MSC MaterialCenter integration ePDM system for Additive Manufacturing Data
For more than 30 years, dozens of Additive Identifying automotive PBF-L applications becomes
Manufacturing (AM) technologies have been used for challenging when taking the industry’s high demands
realizing prototyping applications. Over the past few regarding cost, quality and time into account.
years, AM was increasingly adopted for serial Because of the cost per volume of AM parts,
applications throughout industry, such as medical or currently only high priced, low volume vehicles or
aviation. The process of powder bed fusion with racing sports cars are targeted for application
laser beam (PBF-L) of metals has the largest impact. screening. In automotive production for mass
It offers the highest degree of freedom of design and markets, cost per part dominates the final decision
flexibility as well as excellent material properties. on whether they will be manufactured additively or
conventionally such as forging or casting. the engine’s performance to the customer’s eye.
Manufacturers of high performance sports cars with Conventionally, those blends are manufactured from
limited quantitities up to approximately 5,000 units stainless steel or titanium alloys. Two metal sheets
per year will be early adopters of AM. Ampower formed by deep drawing are joined by a welding
expects the largest potential in automotive seam. Requirements for the mechanical properties
applications to be in the power and drive train as well are driven by vibration and corrosion which put high
as the suspension system. stress on the welding seam. Additionally, tail pipes
are subject to major design iterations. This leads to
To analyze the status quo, Ampower conducted a remanufacturing of deep drawing tools at extremely
study on Additive Manufacturing of a high-end high cost and typical lead times of over 12 months.
automotive application - a tail pipe blend from a
Porsche GT2 RS sports car and analyzed the AM rarely make sense without exploiting the
complete AM process chain. Tail pipe blends are the potential of redesign. A redesign has to consider
visible part of the engine exhaustsystem. Optical not only specific parts but also all surrounding
requirements are high since the component reflects components, functions and assembly steps. For the
present application, realized redesign advantages
are short time to market due to tool-free
manufacturing, increase of quality due to
homogenous material properties, reduction of
number of parts – and thus less assembly steps
– and potential for customized design.
Figure 2 Re-designed, printed and post-processed tail pipe Figure 3 Results of simulation with Simufact Additive and
blend of sports car Porsche GT2 RS computer tomography measurement of printed part
A
dditive manufacturing is a process that has been used Additive manufacturing of metal components is becoming
for some years in Safran’s production centers. Safran more and more widespread in all sectors of industry. A major
Additive Manufacturing - a technology platform advantage of this technology is the geometry design freedom
attached to Safran Tech, Safran’s dedicated research center - that allows the creation of optimized shapes according to the
is aiming to support the widespread use of the additive targeted function. It now starts to be used for the serial
manufacturing technology within the Group: first by production of high-tech parts, particularly in the aeronautics
recommending tools and standards while evaluating and and space industry. Another key benefit of using 3D printing
validating the solutions through use cases, then by technologies is the ability to reduce the weight, cost and
accompanying the companies of the Group in the deployment complexity of parts production without sacrificing the reliability
and use of these tools. and durability of materials.
Figure 2: Example of macro-cracks on LBM parts that appeared during the manufacturing process due to part distortion and Simufact Additive stress
predictions of the parts (Red is high, blue is low)
Conclusions
Safran Additive Manufacturing has taken full advantage of the added value of the Simufact Additive solution in order to secure the
integration of the additive manufacturing processes into its “product-process” development processes, both upstream during product
design and downstream for the production launch.
Safran Additive Manufacturing is now focusing on extending the use of the Simufact Additive solution to different types of parts and
different grades of material, in order to improve the design process for additive manufacturing as a whole. MSC Software supports Safran
Additive Manufacturing and the Group in achieving this objective through this solution that integrates into the global additive manufacturing
value chain, ensuring a quality and open digital continuity.
W
ith the continuing rapid adoption and development
of additive manufacturing techniques and
technologies in multiple industries led by
Figure 2: Concept of a folding bicycle with 3d printed Metal and Polymer parts
These technologies within Hexagon allows the development of a metal or polymer parts in a straightforward way so that they are
compelling solution for the challenges of the additive manufacturing ‘First Time Right’ printed. Let us unwrap that statement a bit by way
industry where unit costs can be high and errors can be costly. It is of first outlining a typical End2End Additive Manufacturing workflow
important to not just optimize the 3D CAD geometry during 3D (see Figure 1). And secondly, using an example for a new innovative
printing, but also, to optimize the end product part. There is a need lightweight folding bicycle concept (see Figure 2). We choose two
\Jewel Deb\Kenscio Office
for real world solutions thatCreatives\MSC
are fast, accurate andSoftware\2020\Jan-2020\MSC-UX580-EBOOK
robust than cover the
typical parts from the bike, to demonstrate pages and
principles fordemo
the pages for
alternative PLM and CAD-based methods. In effect, with this available solutions for metals and polymer. The first is a handlebar
combination of technologies I believe it is now possible to plan, upper fork as a 3D printed metallic part and the second one a bike
optimize, validate and replicate high quality additively manufactured saddle as a polymer part.
Figure 3: Process of Reverse Engineering the Arena Seat Saddle using a 3D Scanner
Figure 6: Comparison of simulated and optimized 3D printed metal Fork part in Simufact Additive
Figure 7: Comparison of the final ‘as-built’ 3D printed polymer seat Figure 9: Hexagon EdgeCAM’s knowledge of machine control in
part to the ‘as-designed’ part in Digimat Additive Additive DED machines
process chain needs to optimized, so that we will get the right whole process will become more transparent and the process
shape with the required part performance. The final part can be made more robust to ensure that all errors are
performance is the outcome of the used process and print eliminated before the designs are committed to in the printers.
parameter. The data can be taken for all materials from an open
and flexible material data management tool like MaterialCenter from In the shown folding bike scenario, we worked with a Hexagon
MSC Software (Figure 5). This solution was adjusted dedicated to partner organization, NIAR, at Wichita State University in America
AM, to be able to handle all experimental data, to calculate the to use their 3D printers to additively manufacture both the fork and
needed parameter out of it for the material models for the simulation the saddle (Figure 8). This part of the process is represented by
and finally, also to control all material properties during the the segment in Figure 1 at 1 o’clock where you go through the 3D
production process. The final material properties need to be printing process based on the optimized designs from the CAE
documented and stored for sensitive parts in AM. MaterialCenter is software predictions at Figure 1: 11 o’clock. We want to thank
the perfect solution to be used besides the production and for the NIAR for their collaboration in this project.
virtual manufacturing simulation as a digital twin.
30% of the costs are incurred directly through the post-
But let us go back to the manufacturing simulation (Figure 1: processing step for machining of the printed part. The used
11 o’clock). MSC Software offers best in class technologies orientation of the part during the process and therefore the
with Simufact for metals (Figure 6) and Digimat for polymers needed support structures etc. are directly influencing the effort
(Figure 7). The simulation will predict the distortion and for the machining stage. So there is a need also to take this
behavior of the parts (fork and saddle) during the whole manufacturing step into account to be able to optimize the
process chain and will detect critical areas or possible whole process chain with all the main influencing steps. It also
problems. This enables the user to optimize the whole process has an impact on the predefined design and can be used to
steps and minimize the risk for manufacturing problems. The minimize the total costs. That is why MSC is developing an
Figure 8: NIAR facilities for 3D printing and the machines used in the bike saddle and fork printing
S
elective laser melting (SLM) is a powder bed fusion should be based on an interaction model of the technological
additive manufacturing (AM) process which occurs at a factors affecting the quality of the final fabricated parts.
high metal melting temperature. High local temperature
gradients and brief cooling effects can cause residual stresses There are three main methods for predicting the temperature
and part deformation during 3d printing, the consequences of distribution and residual stress during the SLM process:
which can be additional surface treatment and reduced
productivity for the process. To understand how to control the 1. Simulation methods,
formation of AM residual stresses and part form deformation, a 2. Experimental work, and
reliable method to investigate influences between technological 3. Combined simulation and experimental approach
parameters and quality behaviours is required. There are basic
physical mechanisms of the selective laser melting process that Since it is difficult to predict part distortion in micro detail due
can lead to part distortion and cracking: high temperature to enormous computational resources being required, a SLM
gradients, high viscosity and surface tension of the molten process for a practical part can be divided into three scales;
powder zone, un-melted powder and oxidized particles. micro scale, meso scale and macro scale. With this type of
approach, the temperature history and residual stress fields
The following variables of the SLM process can be established during the SLM process can be predicted. Thermal information
as the most important: has to be transferred through micro scale laser scanning, meso
scale layer hatching, and macro scale additive part build-up.
1. Powder, composition, size distribution, shape, and
thickness of the melting layer; Description of our SLM Model
2. Laser, power, spot size, beam spatial distribution, scanning
velocity and protective gas atmosphere; and The laboratory of additive technology at Samara National
3. Strategy of additive manufacturing Research University developed a model of influences on the
SLM process parameters of quality by way of an Ishikawa
The main target of our research was to find and control the diagram. The quality of the final additive manufactured part can
optimum SLM process parameters to minimize printed part be decided by powder properties, process parameters, SLM
S L M equipment P owder
P article size Density
S ervice
Type Mixing Time of mixing
Vergin
C alibration
Used
Maintenance Melting Flowability
Monitoring
temperature
and control
S orting Flowability
S L M proc es s quality
P arameters P arameters
G eometry
Type Weight
P arts orientation Technology type
S upport
P arts preparation C oating
R oughness
Evaluation Deviation
SLM
Process Build strategy
Management
Output parameters
Selective laser
melting process
Set of process conditions Part quality
Limiting conditions
Experimental specimens
quality system which is based on managing and controlling of needed an engineering simulation model of the SLM process
input parameters taking into account the limiting conditions. The for better understanding of the link between input and output
main blocks of the proposed SLM quality system are shown in parameters under different limiting conditions. We achieved this
figure 2. In order to select the appropriate set of technological by employing the predictive simulation tool, Simufact Additive,
parameters, the system uses a making-decision algorithm, and from MSC Software.
selection of input parameters depends on the link between part
requirements (accuracy, geometry, surface) and building regimes Simulation techniques have been widely used to predict
for corresponding material and mechanical behaviors. The main residual stresses and part distortions in the SLM processes.
idea of this quality system is that decision and denoting of SLM But they are only suitable for analyzing the thermal-mechanical
parameters are based on experience, and our statistical model to predict residual stresses and distortions of a sintered
database is included in the making-decision algorithm. After specimen. For an original SLM part, it is difficult to predict part
each part is manufactured ‘successfully’, its database record’s distortion due to requiring millions of micro-scale laser scans
input parameters with certain limiting conditions are recorded as which will increase the computational hardware requirement
meaning that all quality requirements are satisfied. prohibitively. However, Simufact Additive allowed us to
compare numerical and experimental results and to develop a
The making-decision algorithm should include not only the multi scale approach to achieve acceptable accuracy of part
statistical database, but a method of quality prediction. The distortion and internal stress. As already mentioned, if we
prediction of accuracy and surface behaviors found in the divide a SLM process for a practical part into three scales such
physical process during SLM: temperature gradients and as micro scale, meso scale and macro scale; with this
distortions, internal stresses and deformations. For this approach, the temperature history and residual stress fields
approach we needed the ability to both monitor the SLM during the SLM process can be predicted. Thermal information
process and to manage this process. Such a system is the key can be transferred through micro scale laser scanning, meso
step to achieving digital manufacturing transformation scale layer hatching, and macro scale part build-up. The aim of
according to the well-known Industry 4.0 concept. our research was to develop a perspective quality system for
the SLM process based on a making-decision algorithm and
Figure 3 illustrates the developed additive manufacturing quality predicting the part quality by SLM process simulation in
system we devised for SLM. It should be noted that we consideration of the temperature distribution and internal stress
Printing preparation Results stress and deviation Distortion model correction Materials properties correlations
Figure 4. SLM distortion prediction by Simufact Additive for a Gas Turbine printed part
in the workpiece. For developing the SLM quality system, a the SLM process. For getting the required part quality influence
conceptual model was established. We chose to simulate the factors correct, factors must be considered such as limiting
entire metal SLM process of a gas turbine engine part including conditions (material properties, equipment specifications), and
Simufact Additive predictions: build, baseplate cutting and input parameters (building conditions and process parameters).
support removal process (see figure.4). Simufact Additive However, during the SLM process, the localized increased
allowed us to predict the distortion and residual stresses in the compression and tension caused by large temperature
turbine blade part and guided the quality system in how to gradients and fast cooling of the 3d printing process can lead
pre-compensate to ensure a quality part was printed the first to significant internal stresses in the workpiece and consequent
time right. Process control variables were selected in Simufact shape deformation. Simufact Additive was a major predictive
Additive to optimize this SLM process to reduce printing time simulation tool to avoid this and for the success of our
and material waste successfully. proposed SLM quality process.
We developed a model of all the influences of additively 1. “Development of SLM quality system for gas turbines engines parts
manufactured SLM process parameters for a gas turbine part production”, V V Kokareva, V G Smelov, A V Agapovichev, A V
Sotov, and V S Sufiiarov, ISPCIET’2018, IOP Conf. Series: Materials
based on quality and influencing parameters as described by Science and Engineering, 441 (2018) 012024
an Ishikawa diagram. The SLM quality system includes
technical-organizational methods of managing and controlling
R
obert Bosch Engineering and Business Solutions costs and time, the idea was put forward to produce the fixture
Private Limited is a 100% owned subsidiary of Robert tool by additive manufacturing in a single part with the goal of
Bosch GmbH, one of the world’s leading automotive removing as much weight as possible without compromising
Tier 1 suppliers of technology and services with 400,000 the part’s mechanical strength.
employees and $100Bn annual revenues. Bosch in India offers
end-to-end Engineering, IT and Business Solutions and Bosch engineers decided to employ the Simufact Additive
employs over 19,000 associates. It has the largest software product from MSC Software to model the additive manufacturing
development center outside of Bosch Germany and is a (AM) metal build process and subsequent post-processing steps
Technology Powerhouse with a global footprint and presence to help eliminate design errors before expensive AM was
in the US, Europe and the Asia Pacific region. committed to. Simufact Additive is very powerful at predicting the
magnitude and distribution of residual stresses in an additive
In making the rotor parts of motors, Bosch employs an IRIS manufacturing situation taking into account variables such as
fixture tool (figure 1). Each year typically 200 units of this IRIS process type, build rate, build sequence, amount of constraints,
tool needs to be produced for assembling various types of etc. Highly localized heating and cooling during the AM process
motors. Until recently, the IRIS tool used to be manufactured typically produces non-uniform thermal expansion and contraction
by a conventional casting process as two parts. To save tooling in the part, which results in a complicated distribution of residual
Distorted
geometry
Figure 2: Additively Manufactured IRIS Fixture Tool prediction that has not been topology optimized showing non-uniform melting temperatures of
1399°C, part distortions of up to 3.5 mm and final part effective stresses exceeding 1,260 MPa (Case 1)
Distorted
geometry
Initial geometry
Figure 3: Additively Manufactured IRIS Fixture Tool prediction that was been topology optimized showing constant melting temperatures of 1399°C,
part distortions of up to 1.07 mm and final part effective stresses less than 1,260 MPa (Case 2)
stresses in the AM part were kept below the yield strength limit of
1260 MPa. For the optimization of this AM build process, they
used the Simufact Additive pre-compensation method which
aimed at a part geometry within acceptable distortion tolerances.
In addition, Simufact Additive optimization methods for the build
process (e.g. support structure optimization) and post-processing
(e.g. cutting strategies, support removal strategies) were also used
to improve this manufacturing process.
Summary
Prototyping
by Solvay
Ultimate strength prediction of a plenum under
pressure produced by selective laser sintering
S
olvay, a global leader in direction, its ultimate strength is reduced
advanced polyamide
solutions, is the principal
in the stacking direction.This issue
is inherent to additive manufacturing
The designed plenum
material sponsor for the processes, as successively deposited should sustain the
Polimotor project. It aims layers are not perfectly bound together.
to open the way for a technological The impact of the produced part
working load conditions
breakthrough in the automotive sector
by replacing up to 10 metal parts by
orientation in the build chamber of SLS and may be redesigned
devices, and AM processes in general,
plastic materials in the engine Polimotor must not be neglected and this new by topology optimization
2 engine.
Among the manufactured plastic parts,
parameter influence must be evaluated.
in order to lighten the
In the image below, the plenum has been
the Polimotor 2 engine will feature a
printed in a peculiar direction due to structure while taking
3D printed plenum chamber produced
through selective laser sintering (SLS) by
the limited space available in a building
chamber: this will be taken into account
advantage of the 3D
using a Sinterline® Technyl® polyamide 6
(PA6) powder grade reinforced with a 40
while predicting the ultimate pressure printing technology.
load it can sustain.
percent loading of glass beads.
The target is to demonstrate that the
plenum plastic part (manufactured with
this technology and material) can perform
with the same reliability as its injection-
molded counterpart.
Challenge
Due to the fact that parts are built of layer
superposition without the need of support
materials, laser sintering can quickly
produce components that integrate
complex internal features and functions.
However, the direction in which the part
is built greatly affects the printed part
strength. Although the printed material
Polimotor 2 Plenum printed with Sinterline®
behavior is not affected by the building
Additive Manufacturing | mscsoftware.com | 39
Solution • Perform a coupled MSC/Digimat AM Results Validation
• Create and calibrate the material calculation to establish the ultimate The maximum pressure load sustainable
behavior using the appropriate pressure load the part is able to has been numerically predicted to
constitutive law. The glass beads are withstand. 9.1 bars, whereas 3 bars has been
modelled using an elastic law while experimentally applied without failure
the pressure-dependent Drucker-
Results/Benefits in the same environmental conditions.
Prager model is well suited to catch • Precise description of the material The designed plenum should sustain
the matrix behavior. behavior and failure surface the working load conditions and may
• Study sensitivity of the part strength be redesigned by topology optimization
• Fully characterize the failure surface
to its orientation in the build chamber in order to lighten the structure while
using the appropriate failure criterion.
taking advantage of the 3D printing
The failure surface shape, specific • Avoid producing parts that do not
technology. u
to 3D printed material, can be well meet the strength requirements by
fitted with a generalized version of taking into account the specificity of
the Tsai-Wu transversely isotropic 3D printing processes
failure criterion.
Manufacturing direction vs. various tensile samples Manufacturing direction of the plenum
F
or more than 25 years,
Stratasys has been a defining Challenge
force and dominant player To unlock the full value additive
in additive manufacturing – manufacturing has to offer, simulation
notably inventing the Fused
tools are needed to predict and mitigate
Deposition Modeling (FDM) Technology.
part warpage as well as realize the impact
The company’s solutions provide
of design decisions on the manufacturing
customers with unmatched design
process before the part is printed.
freedom and manufacturing flexibility –
Several challenges face the development
reducing time-to-market and lowering
of this process simulation:
development and manufacturing costs.
FDM® (fused deposition modeling) is • The complex thermomechanical
becoming the technology of choice for loadings that occur during the
rapid production of high-temperature layer-by-layer deposition of the Virtual printing of the composite
(> 177 ° C), low-volume, composite material and the successive tooling in Digimat-AM
lay-up and repair tools, as well as cooling of the part
for moderate-temperature (<163 °C) • Additive manufacturing is a true
production sacrificial tooling. Relative to multi-scale challenge: the position
traditional tooling materials and methods, of bead deposition creates specific
FDM offers significant advantages microstructures based on the • The thermal history of the material
in terms of lead time, tool cost and printing toolpath pattern, which deposition generates differential
simplification of tool design, fabrication drives the macroscopic mechanical shrinkage between adjacent beads
and use, while enabling increased behavior – typically inducing or layers that affects the end
functionality and geometric complexity. anisotropy. tolerances of the part.
| Visit mscsoftware.com/additive
www.mscsoftware.com/additive-manufacturing
Dr. Hendrik Schafstall
Vice President, Virtual Manufacturing & Costing, MSC Software
Dr. Hendrik Schaftall is Vice President, Virtual Manufacturing & Costing, MSC Software. Together with his partner Michael
Wohlmuth, Hendrik Schafstall founded FEMUTEC engineering in 1995 – today´s Simufact Engineering GmbH.
Prior to the company founding, he was employed as a research associate at the Helmut-Schmidt-University of Hamburg,
obtaining his doctorate researching friction models in cold massive forming. He was a mechanical engineering student at
the Leibniz University of Hannover and received a diploma as a graduate engineer.
Dr. Roger Assaker is the Chief Customer Engagement Officer, MSC Software. He is also the Co-Founder & CEO of
e-Xstream engineering, a high-tech company 100% focused on advanced material modelling. Roger holds a PhD and MS
in Aerospace Engineering with a strong focus on nonlinear computational mechanics where he totals more than 20 years
of experience. Roger complemented his engineering education with an MBA in International Business and several
advanced technology, business and entrepreneurship courses from prestigious universities such as MIT. In parallel to
growing e-Xstream to be the world leader in advanced composite modelling, Roger is the Vice Chairman of NAFEMS
Composite Working Group and active member of other technical material associations such as SPE and SAMPE.
Volker Mensing
Global Director of Business Solutions Marketing, MSC Software
Volker Mensing is the Global Director of Business Solutions Marketing at MSC Software. He is responsible for driving
cross-product global marketing campaigns for MSC & Hexagon, such as Additive Manufacturing, Autonomous Driving,
etc. With a background in journalism and public relations specialising in manufacturing technology and Information
Technology, he has built a 20-year marketing career in the software and IT sector.
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