TECHNOLOGY
physical reality and this validated the output of the design tools . The software tool went through several hundreds , if not thousands , of iterations before the final design and it took more than just a single run to get right . 3D printing enables you to pursue designs not easily made by common tooling . Small feature sizes and varying thicknesses in design make it ideal for complex , optimised designs .”
The University of Maryland outlined a number of distinctive advantages to their 3D printed heat exchanger , not least of which being the ability to transform design without the price tag . The device also improves performance and limits waste . It can be printed in one continuous piece and subsequently the prototypes are resistant to pressure or leakage . This , of course , then impacts performance and reliability and the amount of waste generated in production .
The new 1kW miniaturised airto-refrigerant heat exchanger prototype was the first developed by the university and its success has given them the ability to explore
20 September 2016