Title: Investigation of powder removal of net-structured titanium parts made from electron beam melting

Authors: Philipp Drescher; Thomas Reimann; Hermann Seitz

Addresses: University of Rostock, Fluid Technology and Microfluidics, Justus-von-Liebig Weg 6, 18059 Rostock, Germany ' University of Rostock, Fluid Technology and Microfluidics, Justus-von-Liebig Weg 6, 18059 Rostock, Germany ' University of Rostock, Fluid Technology and Microfluidics, Justus-von-Liebig Weg 6, 18059 Rostock, Germany

Abstract: Selective electron beam melting (SEBM) is a relatively new additive manufacturing technology for metallic materials. Post-processing of parts produced by SEBM typically involves the removal of semi-sintered powder through the use of a powder blasting system. Current equipment has limited ability to enter net structures that have small pore sizes and/or require a large penetration depth. In this study, a basic evaluation of the removal of semisintered powder of several net-structured parts has been made. The aim of this study was to remove the residual powder with an established powder blast system and find relations between its penetration of depth and the pore dimensions of a part in order to predict the behaviour and feasibility of powder removal in future net-structured component designs. It was found that a linear dependency exists between the depth of penetration and pore dimensions.

Keywords: additive manufacturing; electron beam melting; selective EBM; SEBM; post-processing; powder removal; rapid manufacturing; net-structured parts; titanium components; penetration depth; pore dimensions; powder blasting.

DOI: 10.1504/IJRAPIDM.2014.066007

International Journal of Rapid Manufacturing, 2014 Vol.4 No.2/3/4, pp.81 - 89

Received: 09 Jan 2014
Accepted: 02 Apr 2014
Published online: 30 Nov 2014 *

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