The success of powder-based additive manufacturing (AM) processes relies on the control of powder feedstock, which in part stems from accurate and precise size-shape characterization. The present work surveyed several laser diffraction-based and image analysis-based techniques of particle size-shape analysis based out of both academic and industry lab settings to evaluate the viability for AM applications. Four AM powders were studied, and the results highlight that a disparity exists between results collected from different measurement method approaches, particularly when measuring fine and irregular particles. The results of this work can be used to inform which measurement methods can be utilized to collect particle size-shape data for successful AM processing. A case study utilizing these techniques with powder made from recycled material highlights the opportunity for novel powder development.
Topics
- Laser Diffraction & Static Image Analysis-Based Techniques
- Measurement Validation with Calibration Standard Testing
- Size-Shape Analysis & Implications on Additive Manufacturing
- A Case Study with Powder from Recycled Material
