Elsevier

Additive Manufacturing

Volume 13, January 2017, Pages 1-13
Additive Manufacturing

Full Length Article
A voxel-based method of constructing and skinning conformal and functionally graded lattice structures suitable for additive manufacturing

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.addma.2016.10.006Get rights and content
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Abstract

Additive Manufacturing (AM) enables the production of geometrically complex parts that are difficult to manufacture by other means. However, conventional CAD systems are limited in the representation of such parts. This issue is exacerbated when lattice structures are combined or embedded within a complex geometry. This paper presents a computationally efficient, voxel-based method of generating lattices comprised of practically any cell type that can conform to an arbitrary external geometry. The method of conforming involves the tessellation and trimming of unit cells that can leave ‘hanging’ struts at the surface, which is a possible point of weakness in the structure. A method of joining these struts to form an external two dimensional lattice, termed a ‘net-skin’ is also described. Traditional methods of manufacturing lattice structures generally do not allow variation of cell properties within a structure; however, additive manufacturing enables graded lattices to be generated that are potentially more optimal. A method of functionally grading lattices is, therefore, also described to take advantage of this manufacturing capability.

Keywords

Lattice
Voxel
Tesselation
Net-skin
Functional grading

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☆One of the authors of this article is part of the Editorial Board of the journal. Full responsibility for the editorial and peer-review process for this article lies with the journal’s Editor-in-Chief Prof. Ryan Wicker and Deputy Editor Prof. Eric MacDonald. Furthermore, the authors of this article had no and do not currently have access to any confidential information related to its peer-review process.