IP Library › Granted Patent US 12,373,616
Granted Patent B2
US 12,373,616 · App. 17/499,402 · Granted Jul 29, 2025

Thermal modeling of additive manufacturing using graph theory

Inventors: Jordan Severson (Lincoln, NE); Prahalada Rao (Lincoln, NE); Reza Yavari (Lincoln, NE); Kevin D. Cole (Lincoln, NE)
Assignee: NUtech Ventures
G06F30/20
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,373,616
App. No.
17/499,402
Granted
Jul 29, 2025
Kind
B2
Abstract

Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, for an additive manufacturing heat transfer simulation. For example, an additive manufacturing heat transfer simulation system converts a model of an object into a node representation of the object, and generates a network graph of the object based on the node representation. For each block of nodes in the node representation the system applies a simulated heat to the block of nodes, estimates a diffusion of heat to other nodes based on the network graph, and estimates a heat loss to atmosphere. The system generates a representation of an estimated heat distribution within the object.

Claims (54)

1. An additive manufacturing heat transfer simulation method executed by at least one processor, the method comprising:

converting a model of an object into a node representation of the object;

generating a network graph of the object based on the node representation;

for each block of nodes in the node representation:

applying a simulated heat to the block of nodes,

estimating a diffusion of heat to other nodes based on the network graph, and

estimating a heat loss to atmosphere; and

generating, based on estimating the diffusion of heat to other nodes based on the network graph and estimating the heat loss to the atmosphere, a representation of an estimated heat distribution within the object.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein generating the network graph of the object based on the node representation comprises:

defining layers of nodes by sorting nodes of the node representation based on respective z-coordinates of the nodes;

defining hatches of nodes by sorting the nodes of the node representation based on respective y-coordinates of the nodes;

defining blocks of nodes by sorting the nodes in each hatch and layer into discrete blocks; and

building the network graph based on relationships between the nodes.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the representation of the estimated heat distribution within the object comprises a representation of heat flux within the object.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the representation of the estimated heat distribution within the object comprises a representation of temperature distribution within the object.

5. The method of claim 2 , wherein a size for each block of nodes is based on a nozzle velocity of a DED nozzle and a predetermined time step size.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein estimating the heat loss to the atmosphere comprises estimating heat loss through forced and free convection from the nodes on the surface of the object.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein estimating the diffusion of heat to other nodes based on the network graph comprises estimating an amount of heat passed through conduction to nodes within layers and blocks that have previously been simulated as being deposited.

8. An additive manufacturing heat transfer simulation system comprising:

at least one processor; and a data store coupled to the at least one processor having instructions stored thereon which, when executed by the at least one processor, causes the at least one processor to perform operations comprising:

converting a model of an object into a node representation of the object;

generating a network graph of the object based on the node representation;

for each block of nodes in the node representation:

applying a simulated heat to the block of nodes,

estimating a diffusion of heat to other nodes based on the network graph, and

estimating a heat loss to atmosphere; and

generating, based on estimating the diffusion of heat to other nodes based on the network graph and estimating the heat loss to the atmosphere, a representation of an estimated heat distribution within the object.

9. The system of claim 8 , wherein generating the network graph of the object based on the node representation comprises:

defining layers of nodes by sorting nodes of the node representation based on respective z-coordinates of the nodes;

defining hatches of nodes by sorting the nodes of the node representation based on respective y-coordinates of the nodes;

defining blocks of nodes by sorting the nodes in each hatch and layer into discrete blocks; and

building the network graph based on relationships between the nodes.

10. The system of claim 8 , wherein the representation of the estimated heat distribution within the object comprises a representation of heat flux within the object.

11. The system of claim 8 , wherein the representation of the estimated heat distribution within the object comprises a representation of temperature distribution within the object.

12. The system of claim 9 , wherein a size for each block of nodes is based on a nozzle velocity of a DED nozzle and a predetermined time step size.

13. The system of claim 8 , wherein estimating the heat loss to the atmosphere comprises estimating heat loss through forced and free convection from the nodes on the surface of the object.

14. The system of claim 8 , wherein estimating the diffusion of heat to other nodes based on the network graph comprises estimating an amount of heat passed through conduction to nodes within layers and blocks that have previously been simulated as being deposited.

15. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium storing instructions that, when executed by at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to perform operations comprising:

converting a model of an object into a node representation of the object;

generating a network graph of the object based on the node representation;

for each block of nodes in the node representation:

applying a simulated heat to the block of nodes,

estimating a diffusion of heat to other nodes based on the network graph, and

estimating a heat loss to atmosphere; and

generating, based on estimating the diffusion of heat to other nodes based on the network graph and estimating the heat loss to the atmosphere, a representation of an estimated heat distribution within the object.

16. The medium of claim 15 , wherein the representation of the estimated heat distribution within the object comprises a representation of heat flux within the object.

17. The method of claim 1 , comprising:

generating, based on the representation of the estimated heat distribution within the object, process parameters for use in additive manufacturing of the object.

18. The method of claim 17 , comprising:

performing additive manufacturing of the object using the process parameters generated based on the representation of the estimated heat distribution within the object.

19. The method of claim 1 , wherein converting the model of the object into the node representation of the object comprises:

converting the model of the object into a node representation with a uniform node density.

20. The method of claim 1 , wherein converting the model of the object into the node representation of the object comprises:

converting the model of the object into a node representation with heterogeneous node densities.

Assignments (2)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 11, 2022
From: SEVERSON, JORDAN; RAO, PRAHALADA KRISHNA; YAVARI, REZA; COLE, KEVIN D.
To: BOARD OF REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF NEBRASKA
Reel/Frame 058619/0869 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 11, 2022
From: BOARD OF REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF NEBRASKA
To: NUTECH VENTURES
Reel/Frame 058619/0904 →
Continuity (2)
Provisional Application 63090617 · Oct 12, 2020
Related Publication 20220114307A1 · Apr 14, 2022
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