After successful completion of the course, students are able to...

1)     To know the characteristics of structural integrity of 3D printed components

2)     To suggest specifically suitable mechanical and chemical tests for 3D printed components

3)     To compare the mechanical properties of 3D printed components to conventionally fabricated ones

4)     To elaborate on the microstructural relationships between properties, geometry and production process

5)     To know how to leverage functional and material complexity that 3D printing can provide

6)     To practically apply specific design and dimensioning for 3D printing

• Overview of 3DP technologies
• Powder Bed Fusion Mechanisms (Solid State, chemically induced and liquid phase sintering)
• Material Extrusion (Principles of extrusion based 3DP. Temperature and based approaches)
• Characterization tools suitable for 3DP (CT, SEM, AFM, FTIR, LSM,…)
• Design for 3DP (Design rules, opportunities in shape, hierarchical, functional and material complexity, building strategies)
• Structural Integrity (mechanical behaviour, failure, possible models for failure prediction)

The course is interactive with short lectures and subsequent discussions on the individual topics described in the course content. An introduction to the group project will be given on day one of the course. Individual guidance to the group projects will be given on day two and the students will start their individual print jobs themselves giving them hands on experience on 3D printing. Mechanical tests will be conducted together with the entire class on day 3.

Dependent on the number of participants, groups will be divided into 3-6 persons. All groups have to work on a project, where their knwoledge and competence on Design for 3D printing as well as their capabilities in the parts' mechanical characterization will be assessed. The students have to compile a report that is due 1 week after the end of the course. It has to be submitted online on TISS. In addition to the project, the students will have to complete a written test consisting of multiple choice questions.

The students should have basic knowledge in Mechanics, Materials Science, Thermodynamics and Chemistry. Pre-knowledge in Computer Aided Design (CAD), Finite Element Modelling (FEM) and Programming (Matlab and Python) are of advantage.