TPMS vs. Strut Lattice Structures Analysis

The document discusses different types of lattice structures that can be manufactured using additive manufacturing (AM) techniques like selective laser melting (SLM). It describes strut-based lattice structures like body-centered cubic (BCC) and face-centered cubic (FCC) as well as triply periodic minimal surface (TPMS) structures and shell or plate-based lattice structures. TPMS and shell structures are noted to potentially offer improved properties over strut-based designs due to increased surface area and curvature, though more research is needed. The document also provides a brief overview of the SLM process for manufacturing lattice structures layer-by-layer from metallic powder.

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TPMS vs. Strut Lattice Structures Analysis

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Tania

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4 T. Maconachie et al.

/ Materials and Design 183 (2019) 108137

Fig. 1. Strut-based lattice structures: BCC (A), BCCZ (B), FCC (C), FCCZ (D), cubic (F), Octet-truss (G), and diamond (H).

similarity to natural trabecular bone as well as the three- elastic properties than strut-based open-cell structures with
dimensional curvature of their surfaces, TPMS lattice structures similar densities [51], though manufacture of these structures re-
potentially offer improved osseo-ﬁxation over strut-based lattice mains problematic for powder-based AM systems due to the
structures [5]. Maskery et al. also found that gyroids have almost requirement of powder removal [50]. However, open-celled plate-
three times greater speciﬁc energy absorption (SEA) than BCC based lattice structures have been designed, manufactured and
structures with similar porosity [15]. However, these potential tested, and have been shown to exhibit superior strength and
advantages have not been conclusively demonstrated, and the stiffness with very low densities [52].
comparative performance of strut-based and TPMS lattice struc-
tures remains an area for further research.
3. The SLM process for lattice structures

2.3. Shell lattice structures SLM was developed by the Fraunhofer Institute for Laser Tech-
nology, Germany in the 1990s [53] and has since been adopted in
AM has enabled the design and manufacture of cellular struc- various industries due to its ability to produce fully functional and
tures whose unit cells are composed of plates rather than struts near fully dense components directly from metals without the use
[49]. These lattice structures have been described as TPMS-like of intermediate binders or additional processing techniques [54].
(though their surfaces do not necessarily have zero mean curva- During the SLM process, a layer of metallic powder is spread across
ture) and are referred to as “shell lattices” (Fig. 4) [50]. Closed-cell the surface of a build platen. A galvanometer directs a laser beam
plate-based lattice materials have been shown to have superior across this surface to melt powder where necessary, fusing it with