Finite Element Simulation of Powder Bed Fusion Processes
FEA & CFD Based Simulation Design Analysis Virtual prototyping MultiObjective Optimization
Powder Bed Fusion (PBF) technique enables the manufacturing of a vast array of geometrically complex products using a heat source, mainly laser or electron beams, to fuse powder particles layer-by-layer, therefore forming a solid part. Manufacturers can benefit from substantial freedom of design considering that PBF presents several viable technologies and materials.
Metal AM (Additive Manufacturing) FEA Simulation and Optimization
Our Finite Element-Based solution for Metal Additive Manufacturing, puts its focus on build simulation and subsequent steps including heat treatment, cutting the base plate, removing supports, and Hot Isostatic Pressing (HIP). The process simulation solution addresses both manufacturers and researchers and their needs.
- Shorten your training process dramatically
- Investigate more variable prior to the production
- Shorten time-to-market
- Reduce material and energy consumption costs
Selective Laser Sintering (SLS)
Selective Laser Sintering (SLS) uses lasers to sinter, or coalesce, powdered material layer-by-layer to create a solid structure. The main materials used in the SLS 3D printing process include polyamide, Alumide, and rubber-like materials. Nylons are strong and durable but do feature some flexibility, making them excellent for snap fits, brackets, clips, and spring features. Designers should take the susceptibility for shrinkage and warping of thin parts into consideration during the conceptual phase.
Selective Laser Melting (SLM)
The same technical principle is used to produce Selective Laser Melting (SLM) parts, but is exclusively used to produce metal parts. SLM achieves a full melt of the powder so that single-component metals, such as aluminum, can be used to create light, strong spare parts and prototypes. DMLS sinters the powders and is restricted to alloys, including titanium-based alloys. These methods require added support to compensate for the high residual stress and to limit the occurrence of distortion.
Electron Beam Melting (EBM)
Electron Beam Melting technology attains fusion with the use of a high-energy electron beam and produces less residual stress resulting in less distortion. It uses less energy and can produce layers faster than SLS. This method is most useful in high-value industries such as aerospace and defense, motor sports, and medical prosthetics.
Our solution’s functionality helps you to answer challenges in Metal AM (Additive Manufacturing) Finite Element Simulation-based design and Optimization:
- Identify the best build orientation
- Determine and compensate final part distortionGenerate and optimize support structures
- Process window pre-scanning tool
- Powder coating
- Melt pool shape and dimensions
- Consolidated material porosity
- Surface roughness
- Thermal history as a function of deposition strategy
- Residual stresses
- Distortion during build process and after release
- Identify manufacturing issues such as cracks, layer offsets, recoater contact
- Predict the influence of several components in the build space
- Identify cold and hot spots due to thermal/thermo-mechanical simulation
- Examine conditions of highly elevated temperatures and pressures – HIP proces
Optimizing the design parameters for additive manufacturing
FEA Based Simulation enable our engineering team to gain insight into the microscale meltpool phenomena by performing full factorial studies with various process parameters for determine the best process parameters for any machine/material combination, and ensures the achievement of the highest integrity parts, as well as the expected microstructure and physical properties:
- Optimize and fine-tune their machine and material parameters.
- Develop new metal powders and metal AM (Additive Manufacturing ) materials and material specifications.
- Determine optimum machine/material parameters.
- Control microstructure and material properties.
- Manufacture using new metal powders faster and more efficiently.
- Reduce the number of experiments needed to qualify components.
- Mitigate risk while accelerating innovation.
- Analyze Porosity and Meltpools.
- Thermal history and microstructure information.
- Determines the percentage of porosity in a part due to lack of fusion.
WE WORK WITH YOU
We pride ourselves on empowering each client to overcome the challenges of their most demanding projects.
Enteknograte offers a Virtual Engineering approach with FEA tools such as MSC Softwrae(Simufact, Digimat, Nastran, MSC APEX, Actran Acoustic solver), ABAQUS, Ansys, and LS-Dyna, encompassing the accurate prediction of in-service loads, the performance evaluation, and the integrity assessment including the influence of manufacturing the components.
Directed Energy Deposition (DED), Direct Metal Deposition (DMD) & Laser Metal Deposition (LMD): Finite Element Simulation-Based Design
Finite Element simulation allows the prediction of the final distortions in Directed Energy Deposition (DED), Direct Metal Deposition (DMD) & Laser Metal Deposition (LMD) and their compensation to obtain an optimized DED component. With using advanced FEA software and HPC hardware, here at Enteknogarte, we solve the Direct Energy Deposition problems in detail to capture and analyzing the coupled thermal-mechanical response of the process, Investigating phase transformations during cooling process, Predicting distortions and residual stress build up during the process and Studying the influence of speed and power of heating sources on the process.
Read more... Finite Element Simulation of Powder Bed Fusion Processes
Powder Bed Fusion (PBF) technique enables the manufacturing of a vast array of geometrically complex products using a heat source, mainly laser or electron beams, to fuse powder particles layer-by-layer, therefore forming a solid part. Manufacturers can benefit from substantial freedom of design considering that PBF presents several viable technologies and materials.
Read more... Metal Binder Jetting: Finite Element Simulation-Based Design
Metal Binder Jetting (MBJ) is an emerging additive manufacturing technology that has several key advantages over common Powder Bed Fusion processes; high volumes of parts can be printed with minimal spacing; no support structures are needed, and larger lot sizes are possible. It has the potential to replace low-volume, high-cost metal injection moulding for everything from automotive and aircraft parts to medical applications. Because high resolution is possible, it could also reduce the cost and lead times for production of complex and lightweight metallic parts such as gears or turbine wheels.
Read more... Additive Manufacturing of Plastics, Reinforced Polymers & Composites
Additive manufacturing of plastics and composites is evolving from rapid prototyping to industrial production. We use advanced additive manufacturing simulation platforms such as MSC Digimat, Ansys and Abaqus for simulation solution for manufacturing process of Fused Filament Fabrication (FFF), Fused Deposition Modeling (FDM) and Selective Laser Sintering (SLS) of reinforced materials. For printer manufacturers and end-users, the part fidelity is the top challenge to overcome. Simulation-based design allows our engineers to predict warpage and residual stresses of a polymer part as a function of the manufacturing process parameters. We can further optimize the process and minimize the part deformation right at their fingertips.
Read more... Generative Design for Additive Manufacturing & Lattice Structures: Topology, Shape and Bead Optimization
Generative Design is an innovation that significantly alters this way of thinking. It leverages topology optimization, artificial intelligence, and advanced simulation which automatically creates multiple viable design alternatives by specifying simple design criteria.
For additive manufacturing, Optimized structure is the most important thing, and there is big effort to include all aspect of real-world physics to simulation for accurately simulate the process. In the early stages of design, FEA based Simulation in combination with artificial intelligence for topology optimization, shape optimization, bead optimization and lattice structures design, can reveal various design options to reduce weight and materials, while also maintaining and improving the rigidity and durability of the product.
Read more... Integrated Artificial Intelligence (AI) & Machine Learning - Deep Learning with CFD & FEA Simulation
Machine learning is a method of data analysis that automates analytical model building. It is a branch of Artificial Intelligence based on the idea that systems can learn from data, identify patterns and make decisions with minimal human intervention. With Artificial Intelligence (AI) applications in CAE, that is Mechanical Engineering and FEA and CFD Simulations as design tools, our CAE engineers evaluate the possible changes (and limits) coming from Machine learning, whether Deep Learning (DL), or Support vector machine (SVM) or even Genetic algorithms to specify definitive influence in some optimization problems and the solution of complex systems.
Read more... Additive Manufacturing and 3D Printing
FEA Based Design and Optimization with Simufact, Abaqus, ANSYS and MSC Apex for powder bed fusion (PBF), directed energy deposition (DED) and binder jetting processes
With additive manufacturing, the design is not constrained by traditional manufacturing requirements and specific number of design parameters. Nonparametric optimization with new technologies such as Artificial Intelligence in coupled with Finite Element method, can be used to produce functional designs with the least amount of material. Additive manufacturing simulations are key in assessing a finished part’s quality. Here at Eneteknograte, dependent of the problem detail, we use advanced tools such as MSC Apex Generative Design, Simufact Additive, Digimat, Abaqus and Ansys.
Read more... Heat Transfer and Thermal Analysis: Fluid-Structure Interaction with Coupled CFD and Finite Element Based Simulation
We analyze system-level thermal management of vehicle component, including underhood, underbody and brake systems, and design for heat shields, electronics cooling, HVAC, hybrid systems and human thermal comfort. Our Finite Element (LS-Dyna, Ansys, Abaqus) and CFD simulation (Siemens Start-ccm+, Ansys Fluent , Ansys CFX and OpenFoam) for heat transfer analysis, thermal management, and virtual test process can save time and money in the design and development process, while also improving the thermal comfort and overall quality of the final product.
Read more... Vibration Fatigue Finite Element Simulation: Time & Frequency Domain
Structural vibration can be a source for many product related problems; it can cause fatigue and durability problems as well as adverse reactions to the user or bystanders in the form of undesirable vibrations that can be felt or heard. As well, undesired structural vibrations can prevent products from operating as required and potentially becoming a safety concern. The Vibration Fatigue simulation predict fatigue in the frequency domain and it is more realistic and efficient than time-domain analysis for many applications with random loading such as wind and wave loads.
Read more... Finite Element Simulation of Heat Treatment
In principle, there are two kinds of heat treatment processes: processes resulting in a thorough change of the microstructure and processes that result in merely changing regions close to the surface of the component. Examples of the former would be thermal processes, such as annealing and hardening. Examples of the latter, thermochemical processes, would be diffusion and coating processes, such as carburization, case hardening, nitrating, boriding.
Read more... Finite Element Analysis of Durability and Fatigue Life
Vibration Fatigue, Creep, Welded Structures Fatigue, Elastomer and Composite Fatigue with Ansys Ncode, Simulia FE-Safe, MSC CAEFatigue, FEMFAT
Durability often dominates development agendas, and empirical evaluation is by its nature time-consuming and costly. Simulation provides a strategic approach to managing risk and cost by enabling design concepts or design changes to be studied before investment in physical evaluation. The industry-leading fatigue Simulation technology such as Simulia FE-SAFE, Ansys Ncode Design Life and FEMFAT used to calculate fatigue life of multiaxial, welds, short-fibre composite, vibration, crack growth, thermo-mechanical fatigue.
Read more... Finite Element Simulation of Laser Beam / Electron Beam Welding
Laser Beam welding is a thermal joining process, in which a component is heated and welded by a laser beam. It is a high-end process for application cases requiring the highest degree of precision. A huge advantage of laser beam welding lies in the relatively narrow heat affected zone. Electron Beam welding is a thermal joining process, in which a component is heated and welded by electron beam.
Read more... Finite Element Welding Simulation: RSW, FSW, Arc, Electron and Laser Beam Welding
Enteknograte engineers simulate the Welding with innovative CAE and virtual prototyping available in the non-linear structural codes such as LS-DYNA, Ansys, Comsol, Simufact Welding, ESI SysWeld and ABAQUS. The Finite element analysis of welding include Arc Welding, laser Beam Welding, RSW, FSW and transfer the results of welding simulation for next simulation like NVH, Crash test, Tension, Compression and shear test and fatigue simulation. We can develop special purpose user subroutine (UMAT) based on clients need to empower simulation environment to overcome any complicated problem in heat load condition, phase change and user defined material constitutive equation.
Read more... Metal Forming Simulation: FEA Based Design and Optimization
Using advanced Metal Forming Simulation methodology and FEA tools such as Ansys, Simufact Forming, Autoform, FTI Forming, Ls-dyna and Abaqus for any bulk material forming deformation, combining with experience and development have made Enteknograte the most reliable consultant partner for large material deformation simulation: Closed die forging
Open die forging processes such as cogging, saddling, and other GFM, processes
Rolling for long products,
Extrusion,
Ring Rolling,
Cross Wedge Rolling and Reducer Rolling for pre-forming
Cold forming,
Sheet metal forming.
Read more... Casting: Finite Element and CFD Simulation Based Design
Using Sophisticated FEA and CFD technologies, Enteknograte Engineers can predict deformations and residual stresses and can also address more specific processes like investment casting, semi-solid modeling, core blowing, centrifugal casting, Gravity Casting (Sand / Permanent Mold / Tilt Pouring), Low Pressure Die Casting (LPDC), High Pressure Die Casting (HPDC), Centrifugal Casting and the continuous casting process. The metal casting simulation using FEA and CFD based technologies, enable us to address residual stresses, part distortion, microstructure, mechanical properties and defect detection.
Read more... FEA Based Composite Material Design and Optimization: MSC Marc, Abaqus, Ansys, Digimat and LS-DYNA
Finite Element Method is an efficient tool for development and simulation of Composite material models of Polymer Matrix Composites, Metal Matrix Composites, Ceramic Matrix Composites, Nanocomposite, Rubber and Elastomer Composites, woven Composite, honeycomb cores, reinforced concrete, soil, bones ,Discontinuous Fiber, UD Composit and various other heterogeneous materials. Enteknograte Engineers are very skilled in design of composite structural parts for crash and impact analysis using advanced finite element tools:
Deformation and damage analysis,
Material failure predictions,
Drop and crushing testing,
High-speed and hypervelocity impacts,
Highly nonlinear transient dynamic forces,
Explosive loading and forming.
Read more... Acoustics and Vibration: FEA and CFD for AeroAcoustics, VibroAcoustics and NVH Analysis
Noise and vibration analysis is becoming increasingly important in virtually every industry. The need to reduce noise and vibration can arise because of government legislation, new lightweight constructions, use of lower cost materials, fatigue failure or increased competitive pressure. With deep knowledge in FEA, CFD and Acoustic simulation, advanced Acoustic solvers and numerical methods used by Enteknograte engineers to solve acoustics, vibro-acoustics, and aero-acoustics problems in automotive manufacturers and suppliers, aerospace companies, shipbuilding industries and consumer product manufacturers.
Read more... In Silico Medical & Biomedical Device Testing: Finite Element & CFD Simulation and Design, Considering FDA & ASME V&V 40
Enteknograte Biomedical Engineers use FEA and CFD for simulating: Orthopedic products, Medical fasteners, Ocular modeling, Soft tissue simulation, Packaging, Electronic systems, Virtual biomechanics, Knee replacement, Human modeling, Soft tissue and joint modeling, Hospital equipment, Laser bonding, Ablation catheters, Dental implants, Mechanical connectors, Prosthetics, Pacemakers, Vascular implants, Defibrillators, Heart valve replacements.
Read more... Simulation of Plasma Based Devices: Microwave Plasma and RF Plasma Analysis with Coupling Particle in Cell (PIC), MHD, CFD and FEA Solvers
Charged particles and their non-linear discharge characteristics have been especially difficult to model and simulate accurately. We provide consulting services for the modeling and simulation of plasma and other flow systems. Our consulting services utilize our specialized domain expertise in plasma, reactive flows and surface chemistry mechanism development and integration with multi-dimensional flow and plasma systems.
Read more... Electromagnetic Multiphysics FEA & CFD Based Simulation
Enteknograte Finite Element Electromagnetic Field simulation solution which uses the highly accurate finite element solvers and methods such as Ansys Maxwell, Simulia Opera, Simulia CST, JMAG, Cedrat FLUX, Siemens MAGNET and COMSOL to solve static, frequency-domain, and time-varying electromagnetic and electric fields includes a wide range of solution types for a complete design flow for your electromagnetic and electromechanical devices in different industries.
Read more... 
