Investigating the influence of thermal and mechanical properties of resin on the sedimentation rate of the printed geometry in the volumetric additive manufacturing technique

Converse to the conventional additive manufacturing methods based on constructing a body layer by layer, volumetric additive manufacturing produces the whole geometry at the same time. While it is faster, creates features with high surface quality, requires no overhang support structures, and can print in high-viscosity resins, all of which push the limits of additive manufacturing, this technique is still premature and suffers from some effects such as body sedimentation that impacts the geometric fidelity and resolution of the final product. The sedimentation rate of the printed body during its formation is highly dependent on the resin type, its viscosity, and its curing behavior. Herein, we propose a CFD model that takes into account the synergistic effect of reaction-based heating, curing behavior, and resin properties to predict the sedimentation rate of the printed geometry. The results show that heating effects can slow down the sedimentation rate of the curing part significantly.