STEP/STEP-NC-compliant manufacturing information of 3D printing for FDM technology

• Published in: International journal of advanced manufacturing technology Vol. 112; no. 5-6; pp. 1713 - 1728
• Main Authors: Xiao, Jinhua, Eynard, Benoît, Anwer, Nabil, Durupt, Alexandre, Le Duigou, Julien, Danjou, Christophe
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: London Springer London 2021; Springer Nature B.V; Springer Verlag
• Subjects: 3-D printers; CAE) and Design; Computer-Aided Engineering (CAD; Constraint modelling; Context; Data exchange; Data models; Deposition; Engineering; Engineering Sciences; Fused deposition modeling; Headers; Industrial and Production Engineering; Machining; Manufacturing; Mechanical Engineering; Mechanics; Media Management; Original Article; Process parameters; Rapid prototyping; Three dimensional models; Three dimensional printing; Data model; Digital thread; Additive manufacturing; Fused deposition Modelling; Standardization
• ISSN: 0268-3768; 1433-3015
• DOI: 10.1007/s00170-020-06539-5

Advanced manufacturing in the context of the digital thread has mainly focused on process information related to the integration of machining processes, tools, operations, and specific manufacturing parameters. However, no unified information model has been developed to represent specific manufacturing process in 3D printing. This work therefore proposes a STEP/STEP-NC-compliant process data model to define specific application objects and entities, to model manufacturing data relationships and constraints, and to standardize process parameters through extended 3D printing concepts in fused deposition modelling (FDM). This data model describes manufacturing layers, deposition operations and process parameters in the context of the digital thread. As a special feature, manufacturing layers provide geometric information to layered operations based on STEP/STEP-NC standards for additive manufacturing (AM). Deposition operations specify the definitions of print devices or headers, header paths, FDM technology and functions, and even deposition strategy. Process parameters mainly provide process information in the FDM process. Finally, a conformance testing process is developed, focussed on manufacturing layers and header paths and by means of information exchange.