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Article
Publication date: 8 March 2022

Jared Allison, John Pearce, Joseph Beaman and Carolyn Seepersad

Recent work has demonstrated the possibility of selectively sintering polymer powders with radio frequency (RF) radiation as a means of rapid, volumetric additive manufacturing…

182

Abstract

Purpose

Recent work has demonstrated the possibility of selectively sintering polymer powders with radio frequency (RF) radiation as a means of rapid, volumetric additive manufacturing. Although RF radiation can be used as a volumetric energy source, non-uniform heating resulting from the sample geometry and electrode configuration can lead to adverse effects in RF-treated samples. This paper aims to address these heating uniformity issues by implementing a computational design strategy for doped polymer powder beds to improve the RF heating uniformity.

Design/methodology/approach

Two approaches for improving the RF heating uniformity are presented with the goal of developing an RF-assisted additive manufacturing process. Both techniques use COMSOL Multiphysics® to predict the temperature rise during simulated RF exposure for different geometries. The effectiveness of each approach is evaluated by calculating the uniformity index, which provides an objective metric for comparing the heating uniformity between simulations. The first method implements an iterative heuristic tuning strategy to functionally grade the electrical conductivity within the sample. The second method involves reorienting the electrodes during the heating stage such that the electric field is applied in two directions.

Findings

Both approaches are shown to improve the heating uniformity and predicted part geometry for several test cases when applied independently. However, the greatest improvement in heating uniformity is demonstrated by combining the approaches and using multiple electrode orientations while functionally grading the samples.

Originality/value

This work presents an innovative approach for overcoming RF heating uniformity issues to improve the resulting part geometry in an RF-assisted, volumetric additive manufacturing method.

Details

Rapid Prototyping Journal, vol. 28 no. 8
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1355-2546

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Article
Publication date: 20 September 2021

Jared Allison, John Pearce, Joseph Beaman and Carolyn Seepersad

Additive manufacturing (AM) of thermoplastic polymers for powder bed fusion processes typically requires each layer to be fused before the next can be deposited. The purpose of…

133

Abstract

Purpose

Additive manufacturing (AM) of thermoplastic polymers for powder bed fusion processes typically requires each layer to be fused before the next can be deposited. The purpose of this paper is to present a volumetric AM method in the form of deeply penetrating radio frequency (RF) radiation to improve the speed of the process and the mechanical properties of the polymer parts.

Design/methodology/approach

The focus of this study was to demonstrate the volumetric fusion of composite mixtures containing polyamide (nylon) 12 and graphite powders using RF radiation as the sole energy source to establish the feasibility of a volumetric AM process for thermoplastic polymers. Impedance spectroscopy was used to measure the dielectric properties of the mixtures as a function of increasing graphite content and identify the percolation limit. The mixtures were then tested in a parallel plate electrode chamber connected to an RF generator to measure the heating effectiveness of different graphite concentrations. During the experiments, the surface temperature of the doped mixtures was monitored.

Findings

Nylon 12 mixtures containing between 10% and 60% graphite by weight were created, and the loss tangent reached a maximum of 35%. Selective RF heating was shown through the formation of fused composite parts within the powder beds.

Originality/value

The feasibility of a novel volumetric AM process for thermoplastic polymers was demonstrated in this study, in which RF radiation was used to achieve fusion in graphite-doped nylon powders.

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Article
Publication date: 8 October 2018

Clinton B. Morris, John M. Cormack, Mark F. Hamilton, Michael R. Haberman and Carolyn C. Seepersad

Microstereolithography is capable of producing millimeter-scale polymer parts having micron-scale features. Material properties of the cured polymers can vary depending on build…

175

Abstract

Purpose

Microstereolithography is capable of producing millimeter-scale polymer parts having micron-scale features. Material properties of the cured polymers can vary depending on build parameters such as exposure. Current techniques for determining the material properties of these polymers are limited to static measurements via micro/nanoindentation, leaving the dynamic response undetermined. The purpose of this paper is to demonstrate a method to measure the dynamic response of additively manufactured parts to infer the dynamic modulus of the material in the ultrasonic range.

Design/methodology/approach

Frequency-dependent material parameters, such as the complex Young’s modulus, have been determined for other relaxing materials by measuring the wave speed and attenuation of an ultrasonic pulse traveling through the materials. This work uses laser Doppler velocimetry to measure propagating ultrasonic waves in a solid cylindrical waveguide produced using microstereolithography to determine the frequency-dependent material parameters of the polymer. Because the ultrasonic wavelength is comparable with the part size, a model that accounts for both geometric and viscoelastic dispersive effects is used to determine the material properties using experimental data.

Findings

The dynamic modulus in the ultrasonic range of 0.4-1.3 MHz was determined for a microstereolithography part. Results were corroborated by using the same experimental method for an acrylic part with known properties and by evaluating the natural frequency and storage modulus of the same microstereolithography part with a shaker table experiment.

Originality/value

The paper demonstrates a method for determining the dynamic modulus of additively manufactured parts, including relatively small parts fabricated with microstereolithography.

Details

Rapid Prototyping Journal, vol. 24 no. 7
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1355-2546

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Article
Publication date: 18 January 2011

Uma Maheshwaraa Namasivayam and Carolyn Conner Seepersad

Solid freeform fabrication is particularly suitable for fabricating customized parts, but it has not been used for fabricating deployable structures that can be stored in a…

1472

Abstract

Purpose

Solid freeform fabrication is particularly suitable for fabricating customized parts, but it has not been used for fabricating deployable structures that can be stored in a compact configuration and deployed quickly and easily in the field. The purpose of this paper is to present a methodology for deploying flexible, freeform structure with lattice skins as the deploying mechanism.

Design/methodology/approach

A ground structure‐based topology optimization procedure is utilized, with a penalization scheme that encourages convergence to sets of thick lattice elements that are manufacturable and extremely thin lattice elements that are removed from the final structure.

Findings

A deployable wing is designed for a miniature unmanned aerial vehicle. A physical prototype of the optimal configuration is fabricated with selective laser sintering and compared with the virtual prototype. The proposed methodology results in a 78 percent improvement in deviations from the intended surface profile of the deployed part.

Originality/value

The results presented in the paper provide proof‐of‐concept for the use of lattice skins as a deployment mechanism. A topology optimization framework is also provided for designing these lattice skins. Potential applications include portable, camouflaged shelters and deployable aerial vehicles.

Details

Rapid Prototyping Journal, vol. 17 no. 1
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1355-2546

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Article
Publication date: 7 August 2007

Uma Maheshwaraa, David Bourell and Carolyn Conner Seepersad

Frontier environments – such as battlefields, hostile territories, remote locations, or outer space – drive the need for lightweight, deployable structures that can be stored in a…

3045

Abstract

Purpose

Frontier environments – such as battlefields, hostile territories, remote locations, or outer space – drive the need for lightweight, deployable structures that can be stored in a compact configuration and deployed quickly and easily in the field. This paper seeks to introduce the concept of lattice skins is introduced to enable the design, solid freeform fabrication (SFF), and deployment of customizable structures with nearly arbitrary surface profile and lightweight multi‐functionality.

Design/methodology/approach

Using Duraform® FLEX material in a selective laser sintering machine, large deployable structures are fabricated in a nominal build chamber by decomposing them into smaller parts. Before fabrication, lattice sub‐skins are added strategically beneath the surface of the part. The lattices provide elastic energy for folding and deploying the structure or constrain expansion upon application of internal air pressure. Nearly, arbitrary surface profiles are achievable and internal space is preserved for subsequent usage.

Findings

A set of virtual and physical prototypes are presented, along with the computational modeling approach used to design them. The prototypes provide proof of concept for lattice skins as a deployment mechanism in SFF and demonstrate the effect of lattice structures on deployed shape.

Research limitations/implications

The research findings demonstrate not only the feasibility of a new deployment mechanism‐based on lattice skins – for deploying freeform structures, but also the potential utility of SFF techniques for fabricating customized deployable structures.

Originality/value

A new lattice skin mechanism is introduced for deploying structures with nearly arbitrary surface profiles and open, usable, internal space. Virtual and physical prototypes are introduced for proof of concept, along with an optimization approach for automated design of these structures.

Details

Rapid Prototyping Journal, vol. 13 no. 4
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1355-2546

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Article
Publication date: 16 March 2015

Dixon M Correa, Timothy Klatt, Sergio Cortes, Michael Haberman, Desiderio Kovar and Carolyn Seepersad

The purpose of this paper is to study the behavior of negative stiffness beams when arranged in a honeycomb configuration and to compare the energy absorption capacity of these…

4022

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to study the behavior of negative stiffness beams when arranged in a honeycomb configuration and to compare the energy absorption capacity of these negative stiffness honeycombs with regular honeycombs of equivalent relative densities.

Design/methodology/approach

A negative stiffness honeycomb is fabricated in nylon 11 using selective laser sintering. Its force-displacement behavior is simulated with finite element analysis and experimentally evaluated under quasi-static displacement loading. Similarly, a hexagonal honeycomb of equivalent relative density is also fabricated and tested. The energy absorbed for both specimens is computed from the resulting force-displacement curves. The beam geometry of the negative stiffness honeycomb is optimized for maximum energy absorption per unit mass of material.

Findings

Negative stiffness honeycombs exhibit relatively large positive stiffness, followed by a region of plateau stress as the cell walls buckle, similar to regular hexagonal honeycombs, but unlike regular honeycombs, they demonstrate full recovery after compression. Representative specimens are found to absorb about 65 per cent of the energy incident on them. Optimizing the negative stiffness beam geometry can result in energy-absorbing capacities comparable to regular honeycombs of similar relative densities.

Research limitations/implications

The honeycombs were subject to quasi-static displacement loading. To study shock isolation under impact loads, force-controlled loading is desirable. However, the energy absorption performance of the negative stiffness honeycombs is expected to improve under force-controlled conditions. Additional experimentation is needed to investigate the rate sensitivity of the force-displacement behavior of the negative stiffness honeycombs, and specimens with various geometries should be investigated.

Originality/value

The findings of this study indicate that recoverable energy absorption is possible using negative stiffness honeycombs without sacrificing the high energy-absorbing capacity of regular honeycombs. The honeycombs can find usefulness in a number of unique applications requiring recoverable shock isolation, such as bumpers, helmets and other personal protection devices. A patent application has been filed for the negative stiffness honeycomb design.

Details

Rapid Prototyping Journal, vol. 21 no. 2
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1355-2546

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Article
Publication date: 28 September 2012

Cassandra Telenko and Carolyn Conner Seepersad

The purpose of this paper is to evaluate the energy consumed to fabricate nylon parts using selective laser sintering (SLS) and to compare it with the energy consumed for…

2189

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to evaluate the energy consumed to fabricate nylon parts using selective laser sintering (SLS) and to compare it with the energy consumed for injection molding (IM) the same parts.

Design/methodology/approach

Estimates of energy consumption include the energy consumed for nylon material refinement, adjusted for SLS and IM process yields. Estimates also include the energy consumed by the SLS and IM equipment for part fabrication and the energy consumed to machine the injection mold and refine the metal feedstock required to fabricate it. A representative part is used to size the injection mold and to quantify throughput for the SLS machine per build.

Findings

Although SLS uses significantly more energy than IM during part fabrication, this energy consumption is partially offset by the energy consumption associated with production of the injection mold. As a result, the energy consumed per part for IM decreases with the number of parts fabricated while the energy consumed per part for SLS remains relatively constant as long as builds are packed efficiently. The crossover production volume, at which IM and SLS consume equivalent amounts of energy per part, ranges from 50 to 300 representative parts, depending on the choice of mold plate material.

Research limitations/implications

The research is limited to material refinement and part fabrication and does not consider other aspects of the life cycle, such as waste disposal, distributed 2 manufacturing, transportation, recycling or use. Also, the crossover volumes are specific to the representative part and are expected to vary with part geometry.

Originality/value

The results of this comparative study of SLS and IM energy consumption indicate that manufacturers can save energy using SLS for parts with small production volumes. The comparatively large amounts of nylon material waste and energy consumption during fabrication make it inefficient, from an energy perspective, to use SLS for higher production volumes. The crossover production volume depends on the geometry of the part and the choice of material for the mold.

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Article
Publication date: 20 April 2012

Lia Kashdan, Carolyn Conner Seepersad, Michael Haberman and Preston S. Wilson

Recent research has shown that constrained bistable structures can display negative stiffness behavior and provide extremal vibrational and acoustical absorptive capacity. These…

2088

Abstract

Purpose

Recent research has shown that constrained bistable structures can display negative stiffness behavior and provide extremal vibrational and acoustical absorptive capacity. These bistable structures are therefore compelling candidates for constructing new meta‐materials for noise reduction, anechoic coatings, and backing materials for broadband imaging transducers. To date, demonstrations of these capabilities have been primarily theoretical because the geometry of bistable elements is difficult to construct and refine with conventional manufacturing methods and materials. The purpose of this paper is to leverage the geometric design freedoms provided by selective laser sintering (SLS) technology to design and construct constrained bistable structures with negative stiffness behavior.

Design/methodology/approach

A meso‐scale negative stiffness system is designed and fabricated with SLS technology. The system includes a bistable structure in the form of a pre‐compressed/pre‐buckled beam. The dynamic transmissibility of the system is measured, and its behavior is compared to the predictions of analytical models.

Findings

Experimental results demonstrate that pre‐compression and pre‐buckling can be used to induce negative stiffness behavior and thereby increase the damping and shift the resonant frequency of an unconstrained beam.

Originality/value

The results support the usefulness of SLS and other additive manufacturing technologies for acoustic and dynamic applications. Specifically, the demonstrated advantages of SLS include the ability to rapidly redesign, functionally 2 prototype, and tune physical models for acoustic and dynamic experimentation. Of significant importance is the ability of SLS to enable consolidation of parts that are traditionally separate, thereby reducing vibrational noise in these systems. In this specific application, SLS enables a proof‐of‐concept comparison of the theoretical and experimental behavior of a meso‐scale negative stiffness system. The demonstrated acoustical and vibrational absorptive capacity of these systems is expected to lead to designs for new structures and materials that offer significantly improved energy absorbing capabilities over a broad range of tunable frequencies without compromising structural stiffness.

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Article
Publication date: 1 April 2011

Khellon Quacy Roach and Raymond Mark Kirton

Accounting for over 90% of goods traded globally, Maritime Transport is undeniably the main mode of international transport for goods throughout the world. Despite the global…

304

Abstract

Accounting for over 90% of goods traded globally, Maritime Transport is undeniably the main mode of international transport for goods throughout the world. Despite the global financial crisis in 2008, growth in international seaborne trade continued, albeit at a slower rate of 3.6% in 2008 as compared with 4.5% in 2007. The volume of global sea‐borne trade for 2008 totaled 8.17 billion tons as estimated by UNCTAD (2009). Maritime transport is more critical to the development of the small Caribbean states than for most other regions because they exist as islands in the Caribbean Sea, and consequently are heavily reliant on foreign trade. However, despite the advancement in the area of maritime transport globally, Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) continue to be plagued with high transport costs, inadequate port and transport infrastructure and a lack of coordinated maritime transport policies among others. It can, therefore, be widely appreciated that in order for LAC to achieve sustained economic development there is need for improved maritime transport cooperation in the region. This paper seeks to use the examples of Trinidad and Tobago from the Caribbean and Venezuela from Latin America to examine the ways in which Maritime Transport Cooperation can be enhanced in order to encourage development and growth in the Greater Caribbean region

Details

World Journal of Science, Technology and Sustainable Development, vol. 8 no. 1
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 2042-5945

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Article
Publication date: 14 January 2022

Martins Ugonna Obi, Patrick Pradel, Matt Sinclair and Richard Bibb

The purpose of this paper is to understand how Design for Additive manufacturing Knowledge has been developing and its significance to both academia and industry.

494

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to understand how Design for Additive manufacturing Knowledge has been developing and its significance to both academia and industry.

Design/methodology/approach

In this paper, the authors use a bibliometric approach to analyse publications from January 2010 to December 2020 to explore the subject areas, publication outlets, most active authors, geographical distribution of scholarly outputs, collaboration and co-citations at both institutional and geographical levels and outcomes from keywords analysis.

Findings

The findings reveal that most knowledge has been developed in DfAM methods, rules and guidelines. This may suggest that designers are trying to learn new ways of harnessing the freedom offered by AM. Furthermore, more knowledge is needed to understand how to tackle the inherent limitations of AM processes. Moreover, DfAM knowledge has thus far been developed mostly by authors in a small number of institutional and geographical clusters, potentially limiting diverse perspectives and synergies from international collaboration which are essential for global knowledge development, for improvement of the quality of DfAM research and for its wider dissemination.

Originality/value

A concise structure of DfAM knowledge areas upon which the bibliometric analysis was conducted has been developed. Furthermore, areas where research is concentrated and those that require further knowledge development are revealed.

Details

Rapid Prototyping Journal, vol. 28 no. 5
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1355-2546

Keywords

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