This tutorial demonstrates how to perform a Directed Energy Deposition (DED) process simulation using the DED Process Add-on in the Ansys Mechanical application. The following table shows the features used.
| Applicable products: | Ansys Workbench, Mechanical, and Discovery applications. An Additive Suite license is required in addition to Ansys Mechanical Enterprise.[a] |
| Level of difficulty: | Easy |
| Interactive time required: | 10 minutes to set up, 55 - 60 minutes to solve, 10 minutes to review results[b] |
| Manufacturing process: | Directed Energy Deposition (DED) |
| Simulation/system type: | AM DED Process |
| Material: | Inconel 718 |
| Geometry: | One part on planar base plate |
| Mesh: | Cartesian elements |
| AM steps simulated: | Build and cooldown |
| Features demonstrated: | DED Process Add-on, DED Setup Wizard, G-Code file defining tool path, G-Code clustering approach |
| Help resources: | Introduction to DED Additive Manufacturing |
[a] An extra Additive Suite license may not be required if you're using an academic/university installation.
[b] This is an approximate range. The amount of time it takes you to complete the tutorial depends on the computer system and the number of CPU cores you use, the working pace that is comfortable for you, and so on.
Tutorial steps:
- 4.1. Problem Description
- 4.2. Create the Analysis System
- 4.3. Import Geometry and Launch the Mechanical Application
- 4.4. Open the DED Process Wizard
- 4.5. Wizard Step 1 - Identify Geometries
- 4.6. Wizard Step 2 - Set Up for Element Clustering
- 4.7. Wizard Step 3 - Generate Mesh and Create Contact Connections
- 4.8. Wizard Step 4 - Assign Materials
- 4.9. Wizard Step 5 - Define Build Settings and Thermal Boundary Conditions
- 4.10. Wizard Step 6 - Define Structural Boundary Conditions and Base Removal
- 4.11. Perform Element Clustering
- 4.12. Solve the Transient Thermal Analysis
- 4.13. Review Thermal Results
- 4.14. Solve the Static Structural Analysis
- 4.15. Review Structural Results