About this Abstract |
Meeting |
2025 Annual International Solid Freeform Fabrication Symposium (SFF Symp 2025)
|
Symposium
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2025 Annual International Solid Freeform Fabrication Symposium (SFF Symp 2025)
|
Presentation Title |
Customized Segmented Toolpath Strategies for Reliable Fabrication of Unsupported Micropillar Wicks |
Author(s) |
Adnen Mezghani, Edward W. Reutzel, Michael P. Manahan |
On-Site Speaker (Planned) |
Adnen Mezghani |
Abstract Scope |
Micropillars offer promising wicking performance for additively manufactured (AM) heat pipes (HP) and vapor chambers (VC), yet unsupported pillars are challenging to produce reliably due to inclination-dependent balling effects. We introduce novel segmented toolpath strategies and optimize process parameters—segment length, inter-segment dwell time, and laser power—to enhance manufacturability and geometric fidelity. Through systematic experiments, we quantify pillar survival rate, dimensional accuracy, and circularity. Results show that optimized toolpaths significantly increase unsupported micropillar survivability and circularity compared to conventional continuous scans. This process framework enables reliable fabrication of micropillar array wicks, advancing thermal management solutions in AM HPs and VCs. |
Proceedings Inclusion? |
Planned: Post-meeting proceedings |