| Abstract Scope |
Critical for large-scale additive manufacturing, minimizing thermal gradients helps prevent expansion mismatch and subsequent residual stress, warpage, and common printing defects. Fundamentally, this can be achieved by either reducing the peak temperature or increasing the bottom temperature during deposition, however in practice these changes are limited due to process and material behavior. Here, we discuss a newly patented thermal management technology suitable for fusion-based and solid-state additive manufacturing techniques. This environmental control technology adjusts the temperature of the part on a layer-by-layer basis, enabling better control of thermal gradients, and makes it compatible with most additive processes. In addition to mitigating thermal gradients, the thermal control allows for in-situ heat treatment, controlled part shrinkage, potentially expanding the suite of usable materials in AM, as well as improving material quality and contributing to consistent additive manufacturing part performance. |