SYSTEM, METHOD, AND COMPUTER PROGRAM FOR CREATING GEOMETRY-COMPLIANT LATTICE STRUCTURES
First Claim
1. A method of creating a lattice structure for a part formed via additive manufacturing, the method comprising the steps of:
- generating a finite element mesh corresponding to an overall shape of the part via a processor, the finite element mesh having a plurality of mesh elements;
generating a lattice cellular component via the processor, the lattice cellular component corresponding to a mesh element of the finite element mesh;
generating a lattice structure based on the lattice cellular component via the processor; and
deforming the lattice structure via the processor such that the lattice structure has a cellular periodicity corresponding to the mesh elements of the finite element mesh so that the lattice structure conforms to the overall shape of the part.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A system and method of creating a shape-conforming lattice structure for a part formed via additive manufacturing. The method includes receiving a computer model of the part and generating a finite element mesh. A lattice structure including a number of lattice cellular components may also be generated. Some of the mesh elements of the finite element mesh may be deformed so that the finite element mesh conforms to the overall shape of the part. The lattice structure may then be deformed so that the lattice structure has a cellular periodicity corresponding to the finite elements of the finite element mesh. In this way, the part retains the benefits of its overall shape and the benefits of lattice features without introducing structural weak points, directional stresses, and other structural deficiencies.
-
Citations
20 Claims
-
1. A method of creating a lattice structure for a part formed via additive manufacturing, the method comprising the steps of:
-
generating a finite element mesh corresponding to an overall shape of the part via a processor, the finite element mesh having a plurality of mesh elements; generating a lattice cellular component via the processor, the lattice cellular component corresponding to a mesh element of the finite element mesh; generating a lattice structure based on the lattice cellular component via the processor; and deforming the lattice structure via the processor such that the lattice structure has a cellular periodicity corresponding to the mesh elements of the finite element mesh so that the lattice structure conforms to the overall shape of the part. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
-
-
17. A system for creating a part via additive manufacturing, the system comprising:
a computer modeling system comprising; a processor configured to; generate a finite element mesh corresponding to an overall shape of the part; generate a lattice cellular component according to inputs received from the user, the lattice cellular component corresponding to a mesh element of the finite element mesh; generate a lattice structure based on the lattice cellular component; and deform the lattice structure such that the lattice structure has a cellular periodicity corresponding to the mesh elements of the finite element mesh so that the lattice structure conforms to the overall shape of the part. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19)
-
20. A method of creating a lattice structure for a part formed via additive manufacturing, the method comprising the steps of:
-
dividing a computer model of the part into at least two sections via a processor, the computer model having an overall shape; generating a hexahedron finite element mesh corresponding to the at least two sections of the computer model of the part via the processor, the finite element mesh having a plurality of mesh elements each having a plurality of corner nodes and edge midpoint nodes; generating a lattice cellular component via the processor, the lattice cellular component corresponding to a mesh element of the finite element mesh; generating a lattice structure based on the lattice cellular component via the processor; shifting corner nodes and edge midpoint nodes of at least some of the mesh elements of the finite element mesh in one of the two sections via the processor such that the finite element mesh conforms to the overall shape of the part; and deforming the lattice structure via the processor such that the lattice structure has a cellular periodicity corresponding to the mesh elements of the finite element mesh so that the lattice structure conforms to the overall shape of the part.
-
Specification