Document Type

Article

Publication Date

January 2015

Publication Title

Solid Freeform Fabrication 2015: Proceedings of the 26th Annual International Solid Freeform Fabrication Symposium – An Additive Manufacturing Conference

First Page

332

Last Page

345

Disciplines

Ceramic Materials | Manufacturing | Materials Science and Engineering | Mechanical Engineering

Abstract

Fabrication of highly dense parts with complex geometry by paste-extrusion-based solid freeform fabrication processes requires a precise control of the extrusion flow rate to dispense material on demand, which is often referred as Extrusion-On-Demand (EOD). The extrusion process for aqueous ceramic pastes is complex and difficult to control due to their non-Newtonian behavior, compressibility and inhomogeneity. In this study, three methods of EOD (based on ram extruder, needle valve, and auger valve) are introduced and investigated for the extrusion of high solids loading (i.e., >50%, volumetric) aqueous alumina paste. Optimal extrusion process parameters for these methods are determined through printing tests and analysis. The extrusion performance in terms of extrusion start and stop accuracy, as well as flow rate consistency, is compared and analyzed for the three methods. Advantages and disadvantages of these three methods are also discussed.

Comments

This paper was published in Solid Freeform Fabrication 2015: Proceedings of the 26th Annual International Solid Freeform Fabrication Symposium – An Additive Manufacturing Conference. It is included here with permission of the editor. This paper can also be found online at this link.

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