Basic Consideration on Metal Additive Manufacturing Design through Building and Evaluation

(DfAM Trial on a Heat Exchanger)

Abstract

Additive Manufacturing (AM) is a powerful tool that allows parts to enhance their performance and combine into one part because of its high shape flexibility comparative to conventional production methods. It is not only the production innovation, but also design is needed to be changed so that getting these benefits. We focused on DfAM (Design for AM) and performed a trial on a heat exchanger to assess positive effects of DfAM. After AM building with AlSi10Mg powder bed fusion, heat transfer per volume was evaluated. A DfAM prototype recorded nearly doubled of a conventional heat exchanger with the restrictions of conventional production, besides measurement and prediction were well matched. We have considered that pursuing of an ideal shape based on ideas and simple physical models are keys of DfAM.