About this Abstract |
Meeting |
2024 Annual International Solid Freeform Fabrication Symposium (SFF Symp 2024)
|
Symposium
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2024 Annual International Solid Freeform Fabrication Symposium (SFF Symp 2024)
|
Presentation Title |
Large-Scale, Conveyor Belt-Assisted Robotic Additive Manufacturing: System Design and Toolpath Planning |
Author(s) |
Joseph R. Kubalak, Nathaniel J. Root, Katie Dingler, Alex Ryan, Brook S. Kennedy, Christopher B. Williams |
On-Site Speaker (Planned) |
Joseph R. Kubalak |
Abstract Scope |
The design of gantry-based additive manufacturing (AM) platforms defines the maximum build volume; printed parts must always be smaller than the gantry, making AM of large components challenging. However, by using a conveyor belt as the print surface, the build volume is extended infinitely along one axis by conveying previously-printed geometry out of the working envelope. Further, pairing the conveyor belt with a six-axis robotic arm provides additional flexibility to tailor the layering orientation throughout the build. This presentation discusses the design of a conveyor belt-assisted robotic AM system and explores the effects of different toolpathing strategies for fabricating parts that exceed the robot arm's reach. First, we present a novel toolpath planning algorithm that enables printing on a continuously moving belt. Second, we discuss effects of discontinuous, multi-planar printing of part sections on final mechanical properties. A comparative analysis of the methods' throughput, dimensional accuracy, and performance is offered. |
Proceedings Inclusion? |
Definite: Post-meeting proceedings |