• Journal of Welding and Joining
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• v.33 no.6
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• pp.1-5
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• 2015

Additive Manufacturing defines the fabrication of objects by successive consolidation of materials, layer by layer, according to a three-dimensional design. The numerous technologies available today were recently standardized into seven categories based on the general method. Each technology has its own set of advantages and limitations. Though it very much depends on the field of application, major assets of additive manufacturing compared to conventional processing routes are the ability to readily offer complexity (in terms of intricate shape and customization) and significant reduction of waste. On the other hand, additive manufacturing often suffers of relatively low production rates. Anyhow, additive manufacturing technologies is being given outstanding attention. In particular, metal additive manufacturing emerges as of great significance in industries like aerospace, automotive and tooling. The trend progresses toward full production of high value finished products.

• Design & Manufacturing
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• v.1 no.1
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• pp.27-32
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• 2007

In the optical application demand for high quality lens is increasing. Plastics lenses are demanded more than glass lenses for large size lenses as well as micro-size lenses. It is difficult to apply typical straight cooling channels of injection mold to lens molding due to its non-uniform temperature distribution. In this study, we manufactured molds for plastic lenses with the conventional cooling channels and conformal cooling channels produced by the DMLS process. We evaluated cooling performance for the 2 molds by injection molding experiment. Also, uniformity of the temperature distribution was tested by infrared camera and temperature monitoring. We confirmed that the cooling performance and temperature uniformity with the conformal cooling channels is much improved from the ones with the conventional. The cooling time with the conformal cooling channels was reduced 30% compared with the conventional cooling channels.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Precision Engineering
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• v.31 no.12
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• pp.1093-1100
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• 2014

The goal of this paper is to investigate preliminary the applicability of 3D printing technologies for the development of the hot bulk forming process and die. 3D printing technology based on the plastic material was applied to the preform design of the hot forging process. Plastic hot forging dies were fabricated by Polyjet process for the physical simulation of the workpiece deformation. The feasibility of application of Laser-aided Direct Metal Rapid Tooling (DMT) process to the fabrication of the hot bulk metal forming die was investigated. The SKD61 hot-working tool steel was deposited on the heat treated SKD61 using the DMT process. Fundamental characteristics of SKD 61 hot-working tool steel deposited specimen were examined via hardness and wear experiments as well as the observation of the morphology. Using the results of the examination of fundamental characteristics, the applicability of the DMT process to manufacture hot bulk forming die was discussed.