Division of Engineering
AM Tool Design and Simulation
The tool used in AM is often a different shape to the required workpiece. This difference
in shape is owing to a collection of factors such as electrolyte conductivity and applied
voltage/current. Simulating the effects of a given tool can also be important because the
AM process is not usually visable to the operator. At the University of Edinburgh computer
programs are being created to design tools and simulate tool effects that will develop into
commercial applications.
Steady-State AM Tool Design and Simulation
The black line represents the required workpiece, as seen in the "What is AM?" page. The pink line is the designed tool. The steady-state condition
is defined as the point when the rate of material erosion and the rate of tool feed are identical.
In this diagram the black line represents the tool and the pink line the resultant workpiece.
Time-dependant AM Tool Design and Simulation
In this diagram the black line represents the tool and the pink line the resultant workpiece. This is the result at time = 0 seconds.
Notice the workpiece surface is not completely flat, this is because it is defined as a Fourier series, this small undulation can be removed
with basic filtering techniques.
Simulation at machining time of 300 seconds.
Simulation at machining time of 900 seconds.
For more information on tool design click this link.
Or to view/download the whole slideshow click here.