Additive manufacturing is considered a key technology for digital production. However, several barriers towards the broad industrial application exist, e.g. the associated cost and the required experience regarding the manufacturing process. To eradicate these barriers, the complete digitalization of the value creation process is needed. In this thesis, a digital, automated support structure design procedure is developed. Topology optimization is used for design rule determination, and the space colonization algorithm is adapted for the automated design. The validity of the procedure is proven experimentally, revealing sufficient mechanical performance alongside cost reduction at medium to large production scales. The content Provides a concise review of support structure optimization in laser powder bed fusion Includes thermo-mechanical material model of Ti-6Al-4V alloy Contains cost model for calculation of support-induced costs The author Katharina Bartsch studied mechanical engineering with a focus on product development, materials and production at the Technical University of Hamburg. Here, she received her doctorate in 2022 under Prof. Dr.-Ing. Claus Emmelmann (Institute for Laser and System Technologies - iLAS). During her time as a doctoral candidate, she worked as a research associate as well as chief engineer (since 2020) at the iLAS and as a team leader and research associate (since 2019) at the LZN Laser Zentrum Nord GmbH, later Fraunhofer Research Institution for Additive Production Technologies IAPT.

Additive manufacturing is considered a key technology for digital production. However, several barriers towards the broad industrial application exist, e.g. the associated cost and the required experience regarding the manufacturing process. To eradicate these barriers, the complete digitalization of the value creation process is needed. In this thesis, a digital, automated support structuredesign procedure is developed. Topology optimization is used for design rule determination, and the space colonization algorithm is adapted for the automated design. The validity of the procedure is proven experimentally, revealing sufficient mechanical performance alongside cost reduction at medium to large production scales.

Laser powder bed fusion of metals is a technology that makes use of a laser beam to selectively melt metal powder layer-by-layer in order to fabricate complex geometries in high performance materials. The technology is currently transforming aerospace and biomedical manufacturing and its adoption is widening into other industries as well, including automotive, energy, and traditional manufacturing. With an increase in design freedom brought to bear by additive manufacturing, new opportunities are emerging for designs not possible previously and in material systems that now provide sufficient performance to be qualified in end-use mission-critical applications. After decades of research and development, laser powder bed fusion is now enabling a new era of digitally driven manufacturing. Fundamentals of Laser Powder Bed Fusion of Metals will provide the fundamental principles in a broad range of topics relating to metal laser powder bed fusion. The target audience includes new users, focusing on graduate and undergraduate students; however, this book can also serve as a reference for experienced users as well, including senior researchers and engineers in industry. The current best practices are discussed in detail, as well as the limitations, challenges, and potential research and commercial opportunities moving forward. - Presents laser powder bed fusion fundamentals, as well as their inherent challenges - Provides an up-to-date summary of this advancing technology and its potential - Provides a comprehensive textbook for universities, as well as a reference for industry - Acts as quick-reference guide

This textbook and reference provides a comprehensive treatment of additive manufacturing (AM) for metals, including design and digital work flows, process science and reliability, metallic systems, quality assurance, and applications. The book is rooted in the fundamental science necessary to develop and understand AM technologies, as well as the application of engineering principles covering several disciplines to successfully exploit this important technology. As additive manufacturing of metals is the fastest growing subset of this transformative technology, with the potential to make the widest impact to industrial production, Metals Additive Manufacturing: Design, Processes, Materials, Quality Assurance, and Applications is ideal for students in a range of engineering disciplines and practitioners working in aerospace, automotive, medical device manufacturing industries.

This book presents the Proceedings of the 3rd conference on Additive Manufacturing in Products and Applications AMPA2023, a conference that brought together engineers, designers, and managers to exchange ideas and knowledge on how to support real-world value chains by developing additive manufactured serial products. It covers a range of topics related to additive manufacturing (AM), including design for AM, physical and digital process chains, as well as for technology transfer into companies and applications. The book is divided in Sections such as Design for AM, Digital Process Chains, Emerging AM Technologies and Teaching & Training. In addition to these technical topics, the book also covers broader issues related to additive manufacturing, such as Manufacturing Readiness Levels, implementing AM machines into the existing production chain, and quality assurance and control mechanisms.

This book offers a unique guide to the three-dimensional (3D) printing of metals. It covers various aspects of additive, subtractive, and joining processes used to form three-dimensional parts with applications ranging from prototyping to production. Examining a variety of manufacturing technologies and their ability to produce both prototypes and functional production-quality parts, the individual chapters address metal components and discuss some of the important research challenges associated with the use of these technologies. As well as exploring the latest technologies currently under development, the book features unique sections on electron beam melting technology, material lifting, and the importance this science has in the engineering context. Presenting unique real-life case studies from industry, this book is also the first to offer the perspective of engineers who work in the field of aerospace and transportation systems, and who design components and manufacturing networks. Written by the leading experts in this field at universities and in industry, it provides a comprehensive textbook for students and an invaluable guide for practitioners