Track: Modeling and Simulation

Abstract

The performance of an extruder is critical to the success of an additive manufacturing process. This study presents a framework for the Finite Element Analysis (FEA) of an extruder for additive manufacturing. Aluminum based on its lightweight and stainless steel due to its hot hardness property were selected as the extruder component and its heating band respectively with adequate insulation. The thermal modelling and simulation of the extruder were carried out in the ANSYS R19.0 environment. The indicators for the evaluation of the modelled parts were the total heat flux, temperature distribution and the direction heat flux. The results show that there is an increase in the magnitude of the heat flux around the region occupied by the heating barrel where plastic deformation takes place as a result of heating. The heat flux input however was sufficient to plastically deform the polymeric material. The effect of the insulation around the heating barrel shows capacity for temperature reduction. Hence, this work will assist manufacturers who employs additive manufacturing technology for product development in the optimal design of an extruder. The FEA module can be incorporated into the overall framework for the extruder development to permit an iterative process.