How to design solid part for MJF?
With HP Multi Jet Fusion technology, you can print designs that are optimized for topology or even small lattice structures. This design lets you make thinner sections that hold less heat and radiate it back out, which makes the parts more accurate and better looking overall.
Compared to fully solid designs, it also helps to lower the weight of the part, the amount of material, and the fluid agent used. This not only lowers the cost of the part, but it also lowers the cost of running the part in applications where weight is very important.
Parts that are hollow:
This design optimization strategy uses an automatic process to make the model hollow. (Professional software like SolidWorks, Materialise Magics with Materialise Build Processor for HP Multi Jet Fusion technology, and Autodesk® Netfabb® already has this feature.) The walls should be at least 2 mm thick, but thicker walls have better mechanical properties. The best choice depends on how it will be used.
You can add drain holes to the hollow part after the model has been printed to get rid of the powder that is stuck inside. If not, the powder that isn't fused can get stuck in the part, making it heavier and stronger than the fully hollow option. The part is still light, but it is not as strong as the one that is not hollow. The two materials have different densities, which is why they weigh different amounts.
Structures with a lattice:
This design optimization strategy involves hollowing out a part and replacing the solid mass inside with a lattice structure. This structure provides mechanical integrity through the combined action of many rigid cells, while also significantly lowering the part's weight and cost.
This redesign is also quick and can be done automatically with professional software like nTopology or Materialise Magics.
Topology optimization:
Topology optimization is a process based on the finite element method (FEM) that finds the best way to spread out material based on a set of constraints and an optimization goal. Reducing weight and making specific mechanical properties are common goals of optimization. The designer needs to know a lot about how the part works and how the load is spread out, but this is the best way to lower the weight and cost of the original design.
Summary: