Educating Engineers to Design for AM

PROBLEM

Additive manufacturing (AM) part design iteration, analysis, optimization, prototyping and production methods, and tools have all relied on a patchwork of techniques and computer aided design (CAD) data formats which have evolved from conventional material and machining.

Training for design engineers to learn how to design components specifically for AM and software tools to facilitate and enhance these designs are needed to fully exploit the advantages of AM.

OBJECTIVE

The goal of this project is to address gaps in the current AM design-to-print workflow by enabling the insertion of decision tools and AM-aware design tools into an existing CAD system and database.

The project seeks to create a comprehensive knowledge base (KB) that codifies good design practices; a web-based portal that educates designers on design for AM (DFAM) and provides guidance on process capabilities and limitations; a suite of CAD-integrated design-formanufacture tools; a methodology enabling accurate finite element analysis (FEA) modeling coupled with process parameter variables; and DFAM course materials for technical colleges and universities.