Study on Geometry, Dimensional Accuracy and Structure of Parts Produced by Multi Jet Fusion.

Martyna Adach,Tomasz Piwowarczyk,Paweł Sokołowski,Krzysztof Nowak

doi:10.3390/ma14164510

Abstract

Multi Jet Fusion (MJF) is one of the newest additive manufacturing technologies for polymer powders, introduced in recent years. This fully industrial technology is gaining big interest as it allows fast, layer-by-layer, printing process, short production cycle, and very high printing resolution. In this paper, twelve thin-walled, spherical PA12 prints were studied in terms of geometry, dimensional accuracy, and fracture surface characteristics. The various characteristic features for MJF prints were observed here for parts produced according to four various print orientations and having different thicknesses, i.e., 1, 2 or 3 mm. The study showed that MJF technology can print such difficult shapes. However, the set of parameters allowing producing parts with highest geometrical and dimensional accuracy causes at the same time some microstructural issues, like great interlayer porosity or high number of non-processed powder particles embedded in the print structure.

Highlights

Additive manufacturing (AM) is one of the pillars of a new industrial era calledIndustry 4.0
The spherical polyamide 12 (PA12) powder provided by HP with a mean diameter dv50 = 60 μm was used as a feedstock material
This study investigated geometry, dimensional accuracy, and structure of thin-walled spherical parts, which were successfully additively manufactured by Multi Jet Fusion

Summary

Introduction

Additive manufacturing (AM) is one of the pillars of a new industrial era called. It brings together new solutions for the development of intelligent production and technology automation. A new approach to industry includes, in addition to AM, the Internet of Things, Industrial Internet, Smart Manufacturing and Cloud-based. The first 3D printing technology, called stereolithography (SLA), was invented in the. 1980s by Charles Hull and consists of resin hardened using UV light. Hull founded the first 3D printing company, 3D Systems [2]. The idea of additive manufacturing, unlike conventional, subtractive manufacturing methods, considers the creation of parts layer by layer. Additive manufacturing enables production of a physical object directly from a digital model, done usually by 3D modeling, 3D scanning or computed tomography. Thanks to AM, it is possible to create a product in any place and at any time just by transferring and processing the CAD file

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