Shrinkage and deformation in components manufactured by fused deposition of ceramics

Fused Deposition of Ceramics (FDC) presents a new processing technique that may contribute to anisotropic shrinkage and deformation, which are critical issues in the manufacture of ceramic components. The aim of this study is to identify and quantify key FDC parameters and their influence on shrinkage and deformation. The study was divided into two focus areas. The first was the effect of the FDC build parameters on the shrinkage of ceramic parts. The second focused on the interaction of the FDC build process with the geometrical features of a part. A series of experimental design techniques have been implemented in order to gain a thorough understanding of said parameters, as well as any possible interactions between parameters Studies have been conducted across each processing step, from the green manufacture of the part, through binder removal, and sintering. The data and knowledge gained from these experiments will allow us to redesign the original CAD component files to compensate for the shrinkage and deformation encountered when using the FDC technique.