Computer-aided simulation of additive manufacturing processes

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016246908-A1
Application number	US-201514627518-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Feb 20, 2015
Priority date	Sep 19, 2014
Publication date	Aug 25, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

Methods for computer-aided simulation of additive manufacturing processes and corresponding systems and computer-readable mediums. A method includes receiving a finite element (FE) model of a part to be manufactured. The method includes intersecting a depositing layer line with the FE model to define an FE layer mesh that represents a manufacturing layer. The method includes simulating manufacture of the FE layer mesh and correspondingly modifying the FE model. The method includes displaying the modified FE model.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A method performed by a data processing system and comprising:
receiving a finite element (FE) model of a part to be manufactured; intersecting a depositing layer line with the FE model to define an FE layer mesh that represents a manufacturing layer; simulating manufacture of the FE layer mesh and correspondingly modifying the FE model; and displaying the modified FE model.

2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the data processing system defines a plurality of FE layer meshes, simulates manufacture of each of the plurality of FE layer meshes, and modifies the FE model according to each of the simulations.

3 . The method of claim 1 , wherein simulating manufacture of the FE layer mesh includes applying simulation parameters to the FE layer mesh, including applying a heat load to the FE layer mesh according to thermal response data.

4 . The method of claim 1 , wherein simulating manufacture of the FE layer mesh includes applying simulation parameters to the FE layer mesh, including performing a nonlinear transient heat transfer analysis of the FE model including structural load information.

5 . The method of claim 1 , wherein simulating manufacture of the FE layer mesh includes deforming FE node point locations of the FE layer mesh according to applied simulation parameters.

6 . The method of claim 1 , wherein receiving the FE model includes creating the FE model from a solid model.

7 . The method of claim 1 , wherein simulating manufacture of the FE layer mesh includes applying structural loads to the entire FE model.

8 . A data processing system comprising:
a processor; and an accessible memory, the data processing system particularly configured to
receive a finite element (FE) model of a part to be manufactured;
intersect a depositing layer line with the FE model to define an FE layer mesh that represents a manufacturing layer;
simulate manufacture of the FE layer mesh and correspondingly modifying the FE model; and
display the modified FE model.

9 . The data processing system of claim 8 , wherein the data processing system defines a plurality of FE layer meshes, simulates manufacture of each of the plurality of FE layer meshes, and modifies the FE model according to each of the simulations.

10 . The data processing system of claim 8 , wherein simulating manufacture of the FE layer mesh includes applying simulation parameters to the FE layer mesh, including applying a heat load to the FE layer mesh according to thermal response data.

11 . The data processing system of claim 8 , wherein simulating manufacture of the FE layer mesh includes applying simulation parameters to the FE layer mesh, including performing a nonlinear transient heat transfer analysis of the FE model including structural load information.

12 . The data processing system of claim 8 , wherein simulating manufacture of the FE layer mesh includes deforming FE node point locations of the FE layer mesh according to applied simulation parameters.

13 . The data processing system of claim 8 , wherein receiving the FE model includes creating the FE model from a solid model.

14 . The data processing system of claim 8 , wherein simulating manufacture of the FE layer mesh includes applying structural loads to the entire FE model.

15 . A non-transitory computer-readable medium encoded with executable instructions that, when executed, cause one or more data processing systems to:
receive a finite element (FE) model of a part to be manufactured; intersect a depositing layer line with the FE model to define an FE layer mesh that represents a manufacturing layer; simulate manufacture of the FE layer mesh and correspondingly modifying the FE model; and display the modified FE model.

16 . The computer-readable medium of claim 15 , wherein the data processing system defines a plurality of FE layer meshes, simulates manufacture of each of the plurality of FE layer meshes, and modifies the FE model according to each of the simulations.

17 . The computer-readable medium of claim 15 , wherein simulating manufacture of the FE layer mesh includes applying simulation parameters to the FE layer mesh, including applying a heat load to the FE layer mesh according to thermal response data.

18 . The computer-readable medium of claim 15 , wherein simulating manufacture of the FE layer mesh includes applying simulation parameters to the FE layer mesh, including performing a nonlinear transient heat transfer analysis of the FE model including structural load information.

19 . The computer-readable medium of claim 15 , wherein simulating manufacture of the FE layer mesh includes deforming FE node point locations of the FE layer mesh according to applied simulation parameters.

20 . The computer-readable medium of claim 15 , wherein simulating manufacture of the FE layer mesh includes applying structural loads to the entire FE model.

Assignees

• Siemens Product Lifecycle Man Software Inc

Inventors

• Komzsik Louis

Classifications

• G06F30/23 Primary

  using finite element methods [FEM] or finite difference methods [FDM] · CPC title

• G06F30/00

  Computer-aided design [CAD] · CPC title

• G06T17/20

  Finite element generation, e.g. wire-frame surface description, {tesselation} · CPC title

• G06T17/10 Primary

  Constructive solid geometry [CSG] using solid primitives, e.g. cylinders, cubes · CPC title

• G06T19/00

  Manipulating three-dimensional [3D] models or images for computer graphics · CPC title