Title: Integration of additive manufacturing process characteristics in a design method

Authors: Julien Kerninon; Pascal Mognol; Jean-Yves Hascoët

Addresses: IRCCyN/MO2P Team, 1 rue de la Noë, BP 92101, F-44321 Nantes Cedex 03, France ' IRCCyN/MO2P Team, 1 rue de la Noë, BP 92101, F-44321 Nantes Cedex 03, France ' IRCCyN/MO2P Team, 1 rue de la Noë, BP 92101, F-44321 Nantes Cedex 03, France

Abstract: So as to adapt to an increasingly competitive market, companies need to minimise costs and reduce development time while maintaining high quality. This adaptation requires taking into account all elements of the product life cycle, from needs analysis to manufacturing, at an early stage of design. Because of recent developments, additive manufacturing technologies are now considered as manufacturing processes. The development of a design method suitable to these processes has become a major issue for their development. We have developed a method of Design for Additive Manufacturing (DFAM). This method, based on analysis of topological characteristic of the part studied, is used to evaluate the manufacturability of the part with additive processes. We have also developed an approach to decompose a CAD model that can separate interesting geometries manufactured by additive processes. We tested this method on different test parts, particularly in one area of the medical sector.

Keywords: design process; design for additive manufacturing; DFAM; CAD; model decomposition; design for manufacturing; DFM; manufacturability; product life cycle; product design; rapid manufacturing; design rules; component geometry.

DOI: 10.1504/IJRAPIDM.2013.055963

International Journal of Rapid Manufacturing, 2013 Vol.3 No.4, pp.228 - 247

Received: 06 Feb 2012
Accepted: 12 Mar 2013
Published online: 30 Sep 2014 *

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