Do you model manufacturing processes such as welding or additive manufacturing? You can activate or deactivate a material in a material deposition simulation using specialized functionality.

This blog post combines the subjects of 3D printing and metamaterials, featuring a group that used simulation-based research to analyze a unique poroelastic metamaterial.

In 3D printers, suboptimal cooling and cure rates can negatively affect the manufactured parts and components. By optimizing a 3D printer’s design, we can ensure the quality of the printed objects. One research group used simulation to analyze the cooling process and the resulting glass-transition temperature of the polymer in a 3D printer. Let’s look at how they modeled the extrusion of acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) from a 3D printer that uses fused-deposition modeling (FDM®).

3D printing has emerged as a popular manufacturing technique within a number of industries. The growing demand for this method of manufacturing has prompted greater simulation research behind its processes. Engineers at the Manufacturing Technology Centre (MTC) have identified their customers’ interest in a particular additive manufacturing technique known as shaped metal deposition. By building a simulation app, the team is better able to meet the demands of their customers while delivering more efficient and effective simulation results.

In a recent blog post, we discussed the growth in 3D metal printing and its impact on manufacturing. Today, we shift our focus from the industry as a whole to a particular technique that has been instrumental in the production of metal prototypes, as well as plastic, ceramic, and glass materials — even coffee. Selective laser sintering has taken the world of 3D printing by storm.

In some ways, additive manufacturing is like sewing or weaving. We talk to a professor of additive manufacturing about how sequential simulations can be used to analyze and optimize the process.

Selective laser melting is a common and important process in many types of manufacturing. You can model the interaction between the laser beam and matter for a closer look at this process.

3D printing, also known as additive manufacturing, has been a popular topic of discussion on the COMSOL Blog and throughout the scientific community. New initiatives have furthered the capabilities of this technology, while extending its reach in various fields of research, manufacturing, and design. With the help of COMSOL Multiphysics, researchers at the Netherlands Organization for Applied Scientific Research (TNO) are investigating the promise of 3D printing in the realm of material design.

Over the years, the size and cost of 3D printers have decreased, offering new uses for this growing technology. In response to this development, more and more teachers have begun to utilize these devices within their classrooms, helping students learn in a hands-on way.

In the past, we have discussed the importance of material selection in 3D printing and how it can affect the integrity of the final product. With advancements in technology, the industry has evolved from the production of more simple materials, like plastics, to those of greater difficulty, such as metals. Here, we take a more in-depth look at 3D metal printing and its potential to revolutionize the manufacturing process.