Practical Fundamentals of Additive Manufacturing of Ceramics |
John W. Halloran I will discuss a number of additive manufacturing methods for ceramics at both for lab-scale prototyping and for industrial production. I will discuss in more detail methods based on photopolymerization of ceramic suspensions, including stereolithography and related methods. Resolution is determined by the patterning light and by the depth and width of the photocured features. These depend upon the energy dose, intensity, photoactive components which determine absorption and scattering and refractive index. The variation of monomer conversion with depth is important for successful curing of multiple layers. The relationship between all of these parameters are presented with simple models, and discussed in terms of the practical fundamentals of this processing method. I will discuss recent progress on commercial-scale manufacturing of ceramic cores for investment casting of airfoils. |