Closed-Loop Simulation Integrating Finite Element Modeling With Feedback Controls in Powder Bed Fusion Additive Manufacturing

Author(s):  
Dan Wang ◽  
Xu Chen

Abstract Powder bed fusion (PBF) additive manufacturing has enabled unmatched agile manufacturing of a wide range of products from engine components to medical implants. While high-fidelity finite element modeling and feedback control have been identified key for predicting and engineering part qualities in PBF, existing results in each realm are developed in opposite computational architectures wildly different in time scale. Integrating both realms, this paper builds a first-instance closed-loop simulation framework by utilizing the output signals retrieved from the finite element model (FEM) to directly update the control signals sent to the model. The proposed closed-loop simulation enables testing the limits of advanced controls in PBF and surveying the parameter space fully to generate more predictable part qualities. Along the course of formulating the framework, we verify the FEM by comparing its results with experimental and analytical solutions and then use the FEM to understand the melt-pool evolution induced by the in-layer thermomechanical interactions. From there, we build a repetitive control algorithm to greatly attenuate variations of the melt pool width.

2020 ◽  
Vol 143 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Dan Wang ◽  
Xu Chen

Abstract A high-precision additive manufacturing (AM) process, powder bed fusion (PBF) has enabled unmatched agile manufacturing of a wide range of products from engine components to medical implants. While finite element modeling and closed-loop control have been identified key for predicting and engineering part qualities in PBF, existing results in each realm are developed in opposite computational architectures wildly different in time scale. This paper builds a first-instance closed-loop simulation framework by integrating high-fidelity finite element modeling with feedback controls originally developed for general mechatronics systems. By utilizing the output signals (e.g., melt pool width) retrieved from the finite element model (FEM) to update directly the control signals (e.g., laser power) sent to the model, the proposed closed-loop framework enables testing the limits of advanced controls in PBF and surveying the parameter space fully to generate more predictable part qualities. Along the course of formulating the framework, we verify the FEM by comparing its results with experimental and analytical solutions and then use the FEM to understand the melt-pool evolution induced by the in- and cross-layer thermomechanical interactions. From there, we build a repetitive control (RC) algorithm to attenuate variations of the melt pool width.


2021 ◽  
Vol 33 (1) ◽  
pp. 012024
Author(s):  
Yaasin A. Mayi ◽  
Morgan Dal ◽  
Patrice Peyre ◽  
Michel Bellet ◽  
Charlotte Metton ◽  
...  

Author(s):  
Dan Wang ◽  
Xinyu Zhao ◽  
Xu Chen

Abstract Despite the advantages and emerging applications, broader adoption of powder bed fusion (PBF) additive manufacturing is challenged by insufficient reliability and in-process variations. Finite element modeling and control-oriented modeling have been identified fundamental for predicting and engineering part qualities in PBF. This paper first builds a finite element model (FEM) of the thermal fields to look into the convoluted thermal interactions during the PBF process. Using the FEM data, we identify a novel surrogate system model from the laser power to the melt pool width. Linking a linearized model with a memoryless nonlinear submodel, we develop a physics-based Hammerstein model that captures the complex spatiotemporal thermomechanical dynamics. We verify the accuracy of the Hammerstein model using the FEM and prove that the linearized model is only a representation of the Hammerstein model around the equilibrium point. Along the way, we conduct the stability and robustness analyses and formalize the Hammerstein model to facilitate the subsequent control designs.


Materials ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 13 (17) ◽  
pp. 3895 ◽  
Author(s):  
Abbas Razavykia ◽  
Eugenio Brusa ◽  
Cristiana Delprete ◽  
Reza Yavari

Additive Manufacturing (AM) processes enable their deployment in broad applications from aerospace to art, design, and architecture. Part quality and performance are the main concerns during AM processes execution that the achievement of adequate characteristics can be guaranteed, considering a wide range of influencing factors, such as process parameters, material, environment, measurement, and operators training. Investigating the effects of not only the influential AM processes variables but also their interactions and coupled impacts are essential to process optimization which requires huge efforts to be made. Therefore, numerical simulation can be an effective tool that facilities the evaluation of the AM processes principles. Selective Laser Melting (SLM) is a widespread Powder Bed Fusion (PBF) AM process that due to its superior advantages, such as capability to print complex and highly customized components, which leads to an increasing attention paid by industries and academia. Temperature distribution and melt pool dynamics have paramount importance to be well simulated and correlated by part quality in terms of surface finish, induced residual stress and microstructure evolution during SLM. Summarizing numerical simulations of SLM in this survey is pointed out as one important research perspective as well as exploring the contribution of adopted approaches and practices. This review survey has been organized to give an overview of AM processes such as extrusion, photopolymerization, material jetting, laminated object manufacturing, and powder bed fusion. And in particular is targeted to discuss the conducted numerical simulation of SLM to illustrate a uniform picture of existing nonproprietary approaches to predict the heat transfer, melt pool behavior, microstructure and residual stresses analysis.


2016 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
pp. 108-120 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alexander J. Dunbar ◽  
Erik R. Denlinger ◽  
Michael F. Gouge ◽  
Pan Michaleris

Author(s):  
Yancheng Zhang ◽  
Charles-André Gandin ◽  
Michel Bellet

Abstract A super-layer deposition method is developed for 3D macroscopic finite element modeling of heat transfer at part scale during the powder bed fusion (PBF) process. The proposed super-layer strategy consists of the deposition of batches of several layers. The main consideration is to deal with the effective heating times and with the inter-layer dwell time in a reasonable way. The material is deposited at once for each super-layer thanks to level-set and mesh adaptation methods, while the energy input is prescribed, either by respecting the layer-by-layer thermal cycle, or in a single thermal load. The level set method is used twice: first to track the interface between gas and the successive super-layers of powder bed and; second to track the interface between the part in construction and the non-exposed powder. To preserve simulation accuracy, adaptive remeshing is used to maintain a fine mesh near the evolving construction front during the process. Simulation results obtained by means of this super-layer method are presented and discussed by comparison with those obtained by layer-by-layer strategy, considered here as a reference. It is shown that, when respecting certain conditions, temperature evolutions and distributions approaching the reference ones can be obtained with significant savings on computation time. Assessment is first performed on simple part, then on a more complex configuration.


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