Auxetic structures possess a negative Poisson ratio (ν < 0) as a result of their geometrical configuration, which exhibits enhanced indentation resistance, fracture toughness, and impact resistance, as well as exceptional mechanical response advantages for applications in defense, biomedical, automotive, aerospace, sports, consumer goods, and personal protective equipment sectors. With the advent of additive manufacturing, it has become possible to produce complex shapes with auxetic properties, which could not have been possible with traditional manufacturing. Three-dimensional printing enables easy and precise control of the geometry and material composition of the creation of desirable shapes, providing the opportunity to explore different geometric aspects of auxetic structures with a variety of different materials. This study investigated the geometrical and material combinations that can be jointly tailored to optimize the auxetic effects of 2D and 3D complex structures by integrating design, modelling approaches, 3D printing, and mechanical testing. The simulation-driven design methodology allowed for the identification and creation of optimum auxetic prototype samples manufactured by 3D printing with different polymer materials. Compression tests were performed to characterize the auxetic behavior of the different system configurations. The experimental investigation demonstrated a Poisson’s ration reaching a value of ν = −0.6 for certain shape and material combinations, thus providing support for preliminary finite element studies on unit cells. Finally, based on the experimental tests, 3D finite element models with elastic material formulations were generated to replicate the mechanical performance of the auxetic structures by means of simulations. The findings showed a coherent deformation behavior with experimental measurements and image analysis.

Injection moulding is one the most familiar processes for manufacturing of plastic parts by injecting molten thermoplastic polymers into a metallic mould. The cycle time of this process consists of the phases of injection, packing, cooling, and ejection of the final product. Shortening of cycle time is a key consideration to increase productivity. Therefore, in this manuscript the adoption of additively manufactured mould inserts with conformal cooling channels by means of selective laser melting (SLM) with the aim to reduce process cycles is presented. The design and manufacture of a mould insert with conformal cooling channels for producing pressure fitting thermoplastic parts is described. Numerical analysis of the injection process and simulation of shape distortions after SLM were conducted providing useful results for the design and manufacture of the mould insert. The results of the numerical analyses are compared with experimental 3D geometrical data of the additively manufactured mould insert. Temperature measurements during the real injection moulding process demonstrating promising findings. The adoption of the introduced method for the series production of injection moulded thermoplastics proves a shortening of cycle times of up to 32% and a final product shape quality improvement of up to 77% when using mould inserts with conformal cooling channels over the conventional mould inserts.