MTE6887 · Additive manufacturing of polymeric and functional materials

Overview

Additive Manufacturing (AM) of polymeric materials is an important manufacturing platform for the fabrication of functional and customisable engineered products. This unit will provide an overview of existing additive manufacturing processes such as 'fused deposition modelling', 'stereolithography', 'polymer jetting' and 'powder bed fusion'. Each of these technologies relies on the appropriate selection of a polymer and the fundamentals of different classes of polymeric materials will be reviewed. Advantages and drawbacks of existing and emerging AM technologies will also be discussed. The unit will also investigate examples of the use of these technologies for the design and fabrication of functional polymeric parts. You will obtain practical skills in 3D printing of polymers, computer-aided design and processing of polymers for additive manufacturing.

Offerings

Assessment

The Handbook lists an examination for this unit.

Continuous assessment: 50% Final assessment: 50% Final grades: PGO (pass grade only) or NGO (fail) This unit contains threshold hurdle requirements that you must achieve to be able to pass the unit. You are required to achieve at least 45% in the total continuous assessment component and at least 45% in the final assessment component. The consequence of not achieving a hurdle requirement is a fail grade (NGO).

Assessment details may change. Please refer to the assessment information in Moodle closer to the start of the teaching period.

Requisites

Learning outcomes

1. Recognise and distinguish between the different classes of polymeric materials used for Additive Manufacturing.
2. Select the adequate Additive Manufacturing process based on the functional requirements of the product.
3. Demonstrate in-depth understanding of additive manufacturing technologies.
4. Discuss in detail the factors that affect geometric properties such as minimum wall thickness, minimum feature size and/or minimum space between designed surface of 3D printed part.
5. Choose appropriate strategy for the orientation of a 3D printed part on the build platform and the generation of the support structure in order to minimise postprocessing activities.
6. Demonstrate practical skills in 3D printing of polymers.

Workload

The minimum total expected workload to achieve the learning outcomes for this unit is 144 hours per semester typically comprising a mixture of 3-6 hours of scheduled learning activities and 6-9 hours independent study per week. Scheduled activities may include a combination of teacher-directed learning, peer-directed learning and online engagement. Independent study may include associated readings, assessment and preparation for scheduled activities.

Student experience, not official rules. Nothing here changes what the Handbook says.