Experimental approach for development of a powder spreading metric in additive manufacturing

The powder spreading is a vital step of powder-based additive manufacturing (AM) processes. quality spread can considerably influence the properties fabricated parts. Poorly packed beds with high surface roughness result in printed part layers large porosity and low dimensional accuracy, leading to poor mechanical properties. Therefore, spreadability its dependence on process parameters characteristics should be quantified improve efficiency AM methods. This study proposes novel dimensionless metric that commonly used different terms bed density was evaluated by adjusting including recoating velocity layer thickness, particle size distribution. In addition, dynamic repose angle proposed examined as another metric. results showed these two metrics were strongly correlated lower larger thickness led higher angle.