This thesis documents the rules that were written to define the functionality of the selector tool, and the rules that constrain the pseudo random design programmes. To define the selector tool rules, a comprehensive survey of the current AM technology production systems was conducted. This documented the capabilities of each system in terms of build volume capacity, and minimum achievable geometric feature dimension. As AM materials are often specific to AM production systems, the survey also matched the AM materials to the corresponding AM production systems. The AM production system and material data gathered for this research was also used to define rues for the pseudo random design programme. The research concluded that the varying capabilities of AM systems can be used as a system of criteria for a rule based system, which could automate the process of analysing CAD parts for their suitability to be produced by certain AM systems. The research also finds that AM systems capabilities can also be used to constrain generative design programmes to certain AM systems, allowing the creation of pseudo random designs of object that are specific to certain AM systems. The key findings of the research have shown that gaps in empirical data regarding AM material characteristics prevent a material selection system based on comparative analysis. With current levels of available material knowledge, a more suitable system uses previous examples of AM applications in a case based structure as a metric for material suitability
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:bl.uk/oai:ethos.bl.uk:664456 |
| Date | January 2012 |
| Creators | Smith, Paul |
| Publisher | Lancaster University |
| Source Sets | Ethos UK |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Electronic Thesis or Dissertation |
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