3D-Printed Pistons

[roc]

IAV Sees Huge Potential With 3D-Printed Pistons
2018 SAE World Congress Experience

[LSP]

How would thermal expansion differ from a typical solid core piston?

[Circlotron]

^^ And thermal conductivity.
Edit - article addresses this.

[Newold1]

This is the future of complex metal structures whether they are pistons or other complex parts of machinery and industry!

If you are fairly young or have young friends and children who are at a time in their life when they can get the continued education to learn and serve in this new technology and industry talk to them about how they can get involved in this new field and secure great jobs and a future in the exploding technology and industries in methods and materials technology that are beginning now! You don't have to spend huge sums on high end college or university programs as the only way to secure future jobs. Look to specialty schools, industries and technical institutes for this training and methods to enter these industries.

[427dart]

But don't bet these will be cheaper pistons to purchase!

[groberts101]

But don't bet these will be cheaper pistons to purchase!

Not right away.. but eventually as the tech matures and you're able to buy the same materials and machines in miniature versions.

IIRC, koenigsegg used that tech to create it's variable geometry Turbo's. Exciting times to be a gear head techy!

[clshore]

The basic method has become commonplace to create integral cooling passages in dies and tooling for industry.
Also for fabrication of turbine blades with integral cooling passages.

One possibility I have not seen is to create closed cooling passages, rather than open ones that use engine oil.
There is a device called a heat pipe, that takes advantage of the heat absorbed/released by a phase change
in the cooling medium, solid-liquid, or liquid to gas.
Sodium filled valves are an example of how this works.
But liquid-gas can transfer as much as 10x more than convection, and could be integrated into heat pipe enabled pistons.

[englertracing]

The basic method has become commonplace to create integral cooling passages in dies and tooling for industry.
Also for fabrication of turbine blades with integral cooling passages.

One possibility I have not seen is to create closed cooling passages, rather than open ones that use engine oil.
There is a device called a heat pipe, that takes advantage of the heat absorbed/released by a phase change
in the cooling medium, solid-liquid, or liquid to gas.
Sodium filled valves are an example of how this works.
But liquid-gas can transfer as much as 10x more than convection, and could be integrated into heat pipe enabled pistons.

You blew my mind for a second

[clshore]

Yah, the heat still has to be extracted from the bottom side of the piston, but could print it with large heat fins, so that crankcase windage would assist with transferring the heat to the oil.
You could essentially create a nearly 'iso-thermal' piston with more nearly uniform temperatures, top to bottom.
By playing with the 'working fluid', and the shapes, you could achieve a piston that quickly warmed to the desired operating temperature, and
then self regulated at or near that temperature, at least until you reach thermal saturation by working the motor past it's boundaries.

[Mark O'Neal]

It took me about 4 minutes total machine time to make a flat top.

I don't see print time anywhere close to that.

[groberts101]

It took me about 4 minutes total machine time to make a flat top.

I don't see print time anywhere close to that.

If you can cnc me a set like the honeycombed ones linked above?.. just let me know how much. And don't forget the fancy lattice style pins too!

[hoffman900]

It took me about 4 minutes total machine time to make a flat top.

I don't see print time anywhere close to that.

Antique engines require antique pistons?

I don’t think technology like this applies to anything anyone on here works on, yet. I’m still waiting for shops to figure out laser clad valve seats.

[mag2555]

Printed for display fine, other wise at this point I don't even think I would trust them in a 2 cylcle model airplane motor!
Also it takes a hell of a long time to print something up like that which sky rockets price!

[HDBD]

The ability to produce a part does not mean it is a workable substitute or improved product. The working standards, strength of materials, lag what can actually be 3d printed or made on hybrid machining centers.

[hoffman900]

The ability to produce a part does not mean it is a workable substitute or improved product. The working standards, strength of materials, lag what can actually be 3d printed or made on hybrid machining centers.

Rolls Royce Trent series commercial jet turbine designs feature blades with hollow internal structures for cooling. They’re mass produced. No doubt GE/CFM, etc. have similar stuff going on.

https://youtu.be/aFRdp1Js9Kc