Search Results for powder-feeding systems

This article reviews the emerging manufacturing technology that is alternatively called additive manufacturing (AM), direct digital manufacturing, free-form fabrication, three-dimensional (3-D) printing, and so on. It provides a broad contextual overview of metallic AM. The article focuses on the mechanical properties of AM-processed Ti-6Al-4V, IN-625, and IN-718. The development of closed-loop, real-time, sensing, and control systems is essential to the qualification and advancement of AM. This involves the development of coupled process-microstructural models, sensor technology, and control methods and algorithms. AM has the potential to revolutionize the global parts manufacturing and logistics landscape. It enables distributed manufacturing and the productions of parts on demand while offering the potential to reduce cost, energy consumption, and carbon footprint. The article explores the materials science, processes, and business considerations associated with achieving these performance gains. It concludes that a paradigm shift is required to fully exploit AM potential.

This article discusses three types of powder-feeder systems that are commonly used throughout the thermal spray (TS) industry: gravity-based devices, rotating wheel devices, and fluidized-bed systems. It provides information on the various mechanical methods for producing powders, namely, crushing, milling, attriting, and machining. The article describes two prime methods of agglomeration. One method uses a binder by way of agglutination, while the other relies on a sintering operation. The article discusses the technology and principles of the processes that relate to thermal spraying, and offers an understanding for choosing particular feedstock materials that are classified based on the thermal spray process, material morphology, chemical nature of the material, and applications. Sieving, the most common method of separating powders into their size fractions, is also reviewed. The article also provides information on the topical areas and precautions to be undertaken to protect the operator from safety hazards.

This article presents a detailed account of directed-energy deposition (DED) processes that are used for additive manufacturing (AM) of metallic materials. It begins with a process overview and a description of the components of DED systems followed by sections providing information on the process involved in DED and the materials used for DED. The postprocessing applied to the material after deposition is then covered. The article discusses the properties of metallic materials produced by using DED and ends with a discussion on applications for DED processes in various industries.

This article discusses various control processes carried out in powder feeding, thermal spraying, and gas flow of the thermal spray process to standardize the coating quality. Quality of the entire powder feeding process can be achieved by controlling the processing of feeding equipment as well as the characteristics of the powder being fed. Gas flow control can be achieved by using rotameters, critical orifices, and thermal mass flowmeters, whose ability to provide useful information is defined by their resolution, accuracy, linearity, and repeatability. The commercial thermal spray controls discussed here include the open-loop input-based, open-loop output-based, closed-loop input-based, and closed-loop output-based or adaptive controls. The article discusses the common causes and practical solutions for arc starting problems. It also outlines certain important developments in measuring individual and collective particle velocities, temperature, and trajectories as well as other plume characteristics for the plasma spray process.

This article provides information on the infiltration mechanism of carbide structures. It reviews the basic techniques used for metal infiltration, including dip infiltration, contact filtration, gravity feed infiltration, and external-pressure infiltration. The article highlights various applications of contact infiltration in oil, gas, and blast-hole drilling such as fixed-cutter drill bits and diamond-impregnated coring bits. It also discusses the applications of infiltrated carbide material in erosion-resistant cladding.

This article presents the major thermal spray processes and their subsets, presenting each of the commercially significant processes together with some of their important variations. Each process is presented along with the attributes that influence coating structure and performance. The article summarizes the essential equipment components and necessary controls. The various thermal spray processes are conventional flame spray, detonation gun, high-velocity oxyfuel spray, electric arc spray, and plasma arc spray. Other processes, such as cold spray, underwater plasma arc spray, and extended-arc and other high-energy plasma arc spray, are also considered.

Titanium alloys are known for their high-temperature strength, good fracture resistance, low specific gravity, and excellent resistance to corrosion. Ti-6Al-4V is the most commonly used titanium alloy in the aerospace, aircraft, automotive, and biomedical industries. This article discusses various additive manufacturing (AM) technologies for processing titanium and its alloys. These include directed-energy deposition (DED), powder-bed fusion (PBF), and sheet lamination. The discussion covers the effect of AM on the microstructures of the materials deposited, static and mechanical properties, and fatigue strength and fracture toughness of Ti-6Al-4V.

Laser deposition involves the articulation of a laser beam and the introduction of material into the beam path to fuse the material onto a substrate or into a functional shape. It can be divided into two broad categories: cladding and near-net shape processing. This article provides a discussion on the material combinations, characteristics of laser cladding, and the comparison with arc cladding. It reviews the characteristics and applications of near-net shape processing and explains the process involved in powder bed methods and direct powder methods.

This article focuses on the use of electron beam (EB) for near-net shape processing based on the wire feed material-delivery method. EB deposition processes start with a 3-D model designed in a computer-aided design (CAD) environment, where the deposition path and process parameters are generated. The article provides a description of the electron beam direct manufacturing (EBDM) system used for manufacturing of target parts with the aid of a case study. The control of the essential variables of dynamic beam deflection is also reviewed. The article also includes information on the applications of high-frequency multibeam processes, namely, selective surface treatment, multiple-pool welding, and pre- and post-heat treating.