Exploration of improved, roller-based spreading strategies for cohesive powders in additive manufacturing via coupled DEM-FEM simulations

Fuente: arXiv
Enregistré dans:
Détails bibliographiques
Auteurs principaux: Weissbach, Reimar, Praegla, Patrick M., Wall, Wolfgang A., Hart, A. John, Meier, Christoph
Format: Preprint
Publié: 2023
Sujets:
Accès en ligne:
Tags: Ajouter un tag
Pas de tags, Soyez le premier à ajouter un tag!
_version_ 1866912038311165952
author Weissbach, Reimar
Praegla, Patrick M.
Wall, Wolfgang A.
Hart, A. John
Meier, Christoph
author_facet Weissbach, Reimar
Praegla, Patrick M.
Wall, Wolfgang A.
Hart, A. John
Meier, Christoph
contents Spreading of fine (D50 <=20um) powders into thin layers typically requires a mechanism such as a roller to overcome the cohesive forces between particles. Roller-based spreading requires careful optimization and can result in low density and/or inconsistent layers depending on the characteristics of the powder feedstock. Here, we explore improved, roller-based spreading strategies for highly cohesive powders using an integrated discrete element-finite element (DEM-FEM) framework. Powder characteristics are emulated using a self-similarity approach based on experimental calibration for a Ti-6Al-4V 0-20um powder. We find that optimal roller-based spreading relies on a combination of surface friction of the roller and roller kinematics that impart sufficient kinetic energy to break cohesive bonds between powder particles. However, excess rotation can impart excessive kinetic energy, causing ejection of particles and a non-uniform layer. Interestingly, the identified optimal surface velocities for counter-rotation as well as rotational oscillation are very similar, suggesting this quantity as the critical kinematic parameter. When these conditions are chosen appropriately, layers with packing fractions beyond 50% are predicted for layer thicknesses as small as ~2 times D90 of the exemplary powder, and the layer quality is robust with respect to substrate adhesion over a 10-fold range. The latter is an important consideration given the spatially varying substrate conditions in AM due to the combination of fused/bound and bare powder regions. As compared to counter-rotation, the proposed rotational oscillation is particularly attractive because it can overcome practical issues with mechanical runout of roller mechanisms. In particular, the application to rubber-coated rollers, which promises to reduce the risk of tool damage and particle streaking, is recommended for future investigation.
format Preprint
id arxiv_https___arxiv_org_abs_2306_06013
institution arXiv
publishDate 2023
record_format arxiv
spellingShingle Exploration of improved, roller-based spreading strategies for cohesive powders in additive manufacturing via coupled DEM-FEM simulations
Weissbach, Reimar
Praegla, Patrick M.
Wall, Wolfgang A.
Hart, A. John
Meier, Christoph
Computational Engineering, Finance, and Science
Spreading of fine (D50 <=20um) powders into thin layers typically requires a mechanism such as a roller to overcome the cohesive forces between particles. Roller-based spreading requires careful optimization and can result in low density and/or inconsistent layers depending on the characteristics of the powder feedstock. Here, we explore improved, roller-based spreading strategies for highly cohesive powders using an integrated discrete element-finite element (DEM-FEM) framework. Powder characteristics are emulated using a self-similarity approach based on experimental calibration for a Ti-6Al-4V 0-20um powder. We find that optimal roller-based spreading relies on a combination of surface friction of the roller and roller kinematics that impart sufficient kinetic energy to break cohesive bonds between powder particles. However, excess rotation can impart excessive kinetic energy, causing ejection of particles and a non-uniform layer. Interestingly, the identified optimal surface velocities for counter-rotation as well as rotational oscillation are very similar, suggesting this quantity as the critical kinematic parameter. When these conditions are chosen appropriately, layers with packing fractions beyond 50% are predicted for layer thicknesses as small as ~2 times D90 of the exemplary powder, and the layer quality is robust with respect to substrate adhesion over a 10-fold range. The latter is an important consideration given the spatially varying substrate conditions in AM due to the combination of fused/bound and bare powder regions. As compared to counter-rotation, the proposed rotational oscillation is particularly attractive because it can overcome practical issues with mechanical runout of roller mechanisms. In particular, the application to rubber-coated rollers, which promises to reduce the risk of tool damage and particle streaking, is recommended for future investigation.
title Exploration of improved, roller-based spreading strategies for cohesive powders in additive manufacturing via coupled DEM-FEM simulations
topic Computational Engineering, Finance, and Science
url https://arxiv.org/abs/2306.06013