3D Print Build Orientation for Anisotropic Strength Optimization

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Additively manufactured components often exhibit anisotropic material properties, leading to insufficient strength or resilience due to the manufacturing process, limiting their versatility and applicability for specific requirements.

Innovation Solution

A method to determine the optimal orientation of components during additive manufacturing by examining directional dependencies of mechanical properties using numerical or empirical methods, allowing for the optimization of creep resistance and load capacity based on component geometry and material characteristics, and implementing this orientation in the manufacturing process.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If additive manufacturing is used to produce components, then manufacturing flexibility and complexity handling are improved, but anisotropic material properties and insufficient strength occur

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemanufacturing flexibilityVSAvoidcomponent strength
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by determining the optimal build orientation before the actual additive manufacturing process. The method calculates preferred orientations based on directional dependency data and component geometry, then uses this pre-determined orientation information to guide the manufacturing process, ensuring that strength requirements are met before production begins

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the build orientation parameter to optimize component strength. By varying the orientation angle and direction of the build process based on calculated preferred orientations, the method adjusts material properties and structural characteristics to achieve required strength levels while maintaining additive manufacturing flexibility

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Strength

If build orientation is optimized for strength, then component strength is improved, but manufacturing process complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecomponent strengthVSAvoidmanufacturing process complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies self-service by implementing an automated computational system that determines optimal build orientations without requiring manual expert intervention. The method uses algorithms to automatically calculate preferred orientations based on input parameters, eliminating the need for complex manual analysis and making the optimization process self-executing

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces manual mechanical orientation determination with a computational system. Instead of relying on expert judgment and manual analysis, the method uses computer-based calculations and algorithms to determine optimal build orientations, substituting mechanical/expert processes with automated computational processes

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Measurement precision

If directional dependency is examined using numerical simulation, then accuracy of orientation determination is improved, but computational time and resources increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveorientation determination accuracyVSAvoidcomputational time
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies partial action by using simplified directional dependency data and approximate calculation methods rather than full-scale complex numerical simulations. The method determines preferred orientations using reduced computational models that provide sufficient accuracy for manufacturing purposes without requiring exhaustive computational resources

Inventive Principle:
Principle #16Partial or excessive action

Data Source

PatentEP3414036B1Process for determining the build orientation of an article to be manufactured through additive manufacturing and computer-readable medium
Publication Date: 2021.05.26 SIEMENS GAS & POWER GMBH & CO KG
  • EP3414036B1 patent drawingFigure 1~3
  • EP3414036B1 patent drawingFigure 4~5

AI summary

The invention relates to a method for determining the orientation of a part (10) that is to be additively manufactured; said method involves providing a geometry for the part (10) to be additively manufactured, defining a property of the part to be additively manufactured, analyzing a directional dependency of the property in accordance with the geometry of the part, and determining a preferred orientation (1) of the part (10) to be additively manufactured in an additive manufacturing plant (100) on the basis of the analysis of the directional dependency.