Shape Optimization for Lightweight of the Metal 3D Printing Based Hybrid Machining Center

In the fourth industrial revolution, the demand for metal three-dimensional (3D) printing technology is rapidly increasing. Metal 3D printing is an efficient method for manufacturing products because the method reduces material waste compared to subtractive manufacturing. In addition, products with complex shapes, such as turbine blades, can be easily produced using metal 3D printing because the method offers a high degree of freedom. However, due to the long production time of metal 3D printing, mass production is impossible, and post-processing is necessary due to its low precision. Therefore, it is necessary to develop a new hybrid process that can efficiently process metals and to develop a metal 3D-printing-based hybrid processing system technology to secure high processing precision and manufacture complex shapes. In this study, the structural stability of a metal 3D printer based hybrid machining center was analyzed through structural analysis before its development. In addition, we proposed a design modification that can reduce the weight and increase the stiffness of the hybrid machining center by performing shape lightning based on the structural analysis results.