The Detection of Unfused Powder in EBM and SLM Additive Manufactured Components

Additive manufacturing (AM) is recognized as a core technology for producing high value, complex, and individually designed components as well as prototypes, giving AM a significant advantage over subtractive machining. Selective laser melting (SLM) or electron beam melting (EBM) are two of the main technologies used for producing metal components. The powder size varies, depending on the technology and manufacturer, from 20–50 μm for SLM and 45–100 μm for EBM. One of the current barriers for implementing AM for most industries is the lack of build repeatability and a deficit in quality assurance standards. The mechanical properties of the components depend critically on the density achieved; therefore, defect analysis and detection of unfused powder must be carried out to verify the integrity of the components. Detecting unfused powder in AM parts using X-ray computed tomography (XCT) is challenging because detection relies on variations in density. Unfused particles have the same density as the manufactured parts; therefore, detection is difficult using standard methods for density measurement. This study presents a methodology to detect unfused powders in SLM and EBM-manufactured components. Aluminum and titanium artefacts with designed internal defects filled with unfused powder are scanned with XCT and the results are analyzed with VGSTUDIO Max 3.0 (Volume Graphics, Germany) software package. Preliminary results indicate that detecting unfused powder in an aluminum SLM artifact with a 9.5 μm voxel size is achievable. This is possible because of the size of the voids between the powder particles and the non-uniform shape of the particles. Conversely, detecting unfused powder in the EBM-manufactured titanium artifact is less challenging owing to the uniform spherical shape and slightly larger size of the particles.

X-Ray CT Investigation of Graded Ti-Ti64 Material Produced by Selective Laser Melting

This paper is devoted to the study of gradient samples of Ti-Ti64 material, manufactured by selective laser melting. The measurements of porosity, differences in densities are made with x-ray computed tomography for as-processed and after hot isostatic pressing samples. The raw data was processed using the software Volume Graphics and AVIZO. The porosity of the samples was studied and their sphericity was calculated.

3D data visualization: The advantages of volume graphics and big data to support geologic interpretation

The ability to integrate diverse data types from multiple live and simulated sources, manipulate them dynamically, and deploy them in integrated, visual formats and in mobile settings provides significant advantages. We have reviewed some of the benefits of volume graphics and the use of big data in the context of 3D visualization case studies, in which inherent features, such as representation efficiencies, dynamic modifications, cross sectioning, and others, could improve interpretation processes and workflows.