Additive manufacturing of non-uniform scaffolds for mass center control

Abstract

In addition to solid components, additive manufacturing can shape parts with internal structures or lattices to control specific mechanical properties such as the relation between strength and mass, inertia, and the center of mass. This study shows a strategy to produce scaffolds based on linear mapping, exponential parameterization, and Voronoi's diagram. The approach provides layer by layer, a net of lines denser on a specific layer point that can be defined to control the layer center of mass. This method is compatible with current CAD software and three-dimensional printing procedure stages; thus, it is easily reproducible. Furthermore, different linear mapping rulings and parameterizations were tested to evaluate the method's capabilities for modifying the center of mass of a symmetrical NACA 0015 profile. The numerical and experimental results show that it is possible to accommodate the center of mass between −8 and 18 mm to the NACA's theoretical center of mass.