{"id":11922,"date":"2021-03-25T05:54:30","date_gmt":"2021-03-25T05:54:30","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/mfgtechupdate.com\/?p=11922"},"modified":"2022-07-25T05:57:34","modified_gmt":"2022-07-25T05:57:34","slug":"legacy-components-for-the-indian-space-industry-in-metal-additive-manufacturing","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/mfgtechupdate.com\/legacy-components-for-the-indian-space-industry-in-metal-additive-manufacturing\/","title":{"rendered":"Legacy components for the Indian space industry in metal additive manufacturing"},"content":{"rendered":"

Additive manufacturing or 3D printing is perceived as an innovative processing method to replace traditionally produced parts, including castings and multi-component parts. 3D printing helps to create parts in a brief timeframe, with least material wastage, and permits a more elevated level of customisation.<\/p>\n

In this case, two brackets were made using AISI-316L grade for aviation applications, using laser powder bed fusion technology. A thorough analysis was performed on the powder to check for structural integrity to qualify the component for functional testing. A large amount of material was removed, extreme machining time and related issues, for example, residual stress and warpage conceived, which would happen in conventional methods, have been eradicated by taking up additive manufacturing.<\/p>\n

The mechanical properties meet the prerequisites of the ASTM F 3184-16 norm, resulting in similar or better part build. Despite the successful build, a minor contortion was noticed in the thin wall region, which was resolved by adding extra stock in the thin section and later, post processed by machining. The brackets were found to be free from any defects\u00a0> 100 \u00b5m, as non-destructive testing was performed by the large macro CT. Furthermore, it has been identified that there is ample scope for topology optimisation, which can lead to weight saving, thereby increasing efficiency.<\/p>\n

The challenge
\n<\/strong>The challengeConventional production of the AISI-316L brackets relies on casting and shaping of bulk feed stock materials, followed by subsequent machining to final shapes and dimensions. These ancient manufacturing processes forever inevitably end in an outsized quantity of fabric waste, high machine hours, high producing value and long lead times. The material needs for producing Type-I bracket of weight 3.5 kg was calculable to be a forged\/rolled block of 100 kg and thickness 125 mm, wherein 96.5% of fabric is wasted throughout machining. The buy-to-fly ratio is ~ 28, just in case of a conventionally factory-made one. Additive manufacturing will bring down the get-to-fly ratio to ~ 1, leading to significant value and time savings.<\/p>\n

The solution<\/strong>
\n\"\"<\/a>A reduction of lead time and cost will be achieved for parts, thanks to a number of characteristics of additive manufacturing; shorter lead time from design to production, adaptability to design changes, complicated geometries at no additional price and significantly less post-processing, as compared with the conventional production routes. For this case, we found powder bed fusion to be the most suitable and optimum option to ensure part-built quality and integrity.<\/p>\n

Process and specification<\/strong>
\nStress-relieving of 3D-printed brackets was performed by soaking at 600 \u00b0C for 2 hrs as per AMS 2759-4C. The temperature of 600 \u00b0C is adequate, as 3D printing doesn\u2019t generate any major residual stresses, like thick section moulded product. Also, a high-temperature stress-relieving would cause distortion of thin sections. Brackets were subjected to sandblasting for improving the surface finish.The following activities were performed in the entire additive manufacturing process:\"\"<\/a>
\n\u00bb<\/strong>\u00a0Mechanical property improved
\n\u00bb<\/strong>\u00a0Microstructural evaluation at par
\n\u00bb<\/strong>\u00a0Computed Metro Tomography (CT) inspection was successful
\n\u00bb<\/strong>\u00a0Dimensions and geometrical inspection ensured accuracy of the final part
\n\u00bb<\/strong>\u00a0Dimensions and geometrical inspection ensured accuracy of the final part
\n\u00bb<\/strong>\u00a0Structural testing resulted in real-time results.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>Testing and approvals
\n<\/strong>Computed metro tomography analysis confirms the soundness of brackets realised by 3D printing. The porosity level in this process is higher than that of wrought products and size approximated to be
\n<\/strong><\/p>\n

100 \u00b5m. However, this will not affect the functionality of the products. It may also be noted that the porosity noticed in 3D-printed components is less than the sizes resolvable by conventional NDT techniques, such as ultrasonic testing and X-radiography.<\/p>\n

Comparison<\/strong>
\nThe tensile properties achieved by the LPBF 3D printing process for AISI-316L have been compared with wrought products of 100 mm section thickness, as shown above. It is observed that the yield strength achieved in the LPBF process is much higher than that achieved by wrought products, whereas percentage elongation is on the lower side. A similar trend of mechanical properties has been reported. In this case, it may be noted that AISI-316L stainless steel wrought products are processed by hot working, followed by solution annealing at temperature ~ 1040 \u00b0C. LPBF being a layer-by-layer processing, stress relieving at 600 \u00b0C is adequate for relieving the residual stresses generated by the processing.<\/p>\n

Microstructure<\/strong>
\n\"\"<\/a>Subsequent to tensile testing, the cross section of tensile specimen ends was prepared as per conventional metallographic polishing and then, etched using 10% oxalic acid electrolytic reagent to reveal the microstructure as shown in Fig. 5a\u2013d. The microstructures shown below revealed that the thickness of each melt pool layer was ~ 100 \u00b5m, indicating two to three layers of power are fused during each laser beam scan.<\/p>\n

Orientation<\/strong>
\n\"\"<\/a>
\nThe \u2018standard specification for additive manufacturing stainless steel alloy with powder bed fusion as per ASTM F3184-16 in Class A condition (stress relieved condition)\u2019 was followed for 3D printing of these brackets. Test\u00a0coupons in four directions (X, Y, Z and 45\u00b0 to XY, YZ and ZX planes, i.e., body diagonal of an imaginary cube) were 3D printed along with the brackets for evaluating the tensile properties and impact strength. Build orientation followed for 3D printing of brackets and test coupons for characterisation are as shown above.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Tensile<\/strong>To compare the mechanical properties of LPBF 3D printed AISI-316L test in solution-annealed condition, the specimens were subjected to solution annealing and tensile properties were evaluated. The comparison is shown above. These results confirm that the LPBF process can give better mechanical properties (including the minimum guaranteed % elongation) as compared to the conventional wrought products even in solution-annealed condition.<\/p>\n

Testing<\/strong>
\nFunctional acceptance tests of LPBF 3D printed brackets were performed by structural testing (test setup shown below) by applying four times the actual thrust and inertial loads. The brackets successfully withstood the test, and strains observed were very benign\/negligible of \u00b1 9 \u03bc\u03b5 in tension and compression loading conditions. Thus, these brackets were qualified for the intended end use. Trial suiting of the brackets with the thrusters was carried out and found to meet the geometric requirements for the intended application.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>Conclusion<\/strong>
\nTwo kinds of brackets for aerospace applications\u00a0were realised through the LPBF\/ DMLS 3D printing, followed by stress-relieving heat treatment and subjected to careful characterisation. The subsequent are the conclusions from this study:<\/p>\n

\u21d2<\/strong>\u00a0The distortion noticed on the thin wall regions was avoided by adding additional stock at thin sections and removing by post-processing
\n\u21d2\u00a0<\/strong>The mechanical properties in a stress-relieved\u00a0 condition meet the necessity as per ASTM F 3184-16 and also the achieved properties are akin to the moulded product. The LPBF method provides higher mechanical properties than the standard moulded product, even in the solution toughened condition.
\n\u21d2<\/strong>In the early stages, failure ascertained in\u00a045\u00b0 specimens was attributed to incomplete sintering at these layers. The basis cause was established as improper spreading of powder at one amongst the layers.
\n\u21d2<\/strong>Non-destructive testing was performed by macro CT and brackets were found to be free from defects. The porousness was approximated to be 100 \u00b5m, which cannot affect the functionality of the product. The porousness noticed in additively manufactured components is a smaller amount than the sizes resolvable by standard NDT techniques such as ultrasonic testing and X-radiography.
\n\u21d2<\/strong>If needed in the future, structural testing confirmed that enough margins are accessible within the designed brackets with the laser powder bed fusion additive manufacturing route and additional weight reduction are often achieved by topology optimisation through design for additive manufacturing.<\/p>\n

About Objectify Technologies
\nObjectify Technologies is India\u2019s only in-house metal and polymer Additive Manufacturing Engineering Service Provider (AM-ESP) with expertise in aerospace, automotive, tooling, white goods and medical component building and consulting. Its objective is to ensure the widespread acceptance of additive manufacturing \/ 3D printing across all industries\u2019 supply chain and become a flag bearer to additive manufacturing information.<\/p>\n

Collaboration with
\nThe Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC) is one of the main research and development establishments within ISRO. VSSC is an entirely indigenous facility working on the development of sounding rockets, the Rohini and Menaka launchers, and SLV, ASLV, PSLV, GSLV and GSLV Mk III families of launch vehicles.<\/p>\n

The Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) is the space agency of the Government of India and has its headquarters in Bangalore. Its vision is to \u201charness space technology for national development while pursuing space science research & planetary exploration\u201d.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Additive manufacturing or 3D printing is perceived as an innovative processing method to replace traditionally produced parts, including castings and multi-component parts. 3D printing helps to create parts in a brief timeframe, with least material wastage, and permits a more elevated level of customisation. In this case, two brackets were made using AISI-316L grade for […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":11930,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[31],"tags":[1525,1526],"class_list":["post-11922","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-case-studies","tag-aditive-manufacturing","tag-objectify-technologies"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/mfgtechupdate.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/11922","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/mfgtechupdate.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/mfgtechupdate.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mfgtechupdate.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mfgtechupdate.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=11922"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/mfgtechupdate.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/11922\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":11931,"href":"https:\/\/mfgtechupdate.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/11922\/revisions\/11931"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mfgtechupdate.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/11930"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/mfgtechupdate.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=11922"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mfgtechupdate.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=11922"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mfgtechupdate.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=11922"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}