Standard method for microCT-based additive manufacturing quality control 4: Metal powder analysis

Anton du Plessis; Philip Sperling; Andre Beerlink; Willie B du Preez; Stephan G le Roux

doi:10.1016/j.mex.2018.10.021

Standard method for microCT-based additive manufacturing quality control 4: Metal powder analysis

MethodsX. 2018 Oct 23:5:1336-1345. doi: 10.1016/j.mex.2018.10.021. eCollection 2018.

Authors

Anton du Plessis¹, Philip Sperling², Andre Beerlink², Willie B du Preez³, Stephan G le Roux¹

Affiliations

¹ CT Scanner Facility, Stellenbosch University, Stellenbosch, South Africa.
² YXLON International GmbH, Hamburg, Germany.
³ Dept of Mechanical Engineering Dept, Central University of Technology, Free State, South Africa.

Abstract

X-ray micro computed tomography (microCT) can be applied to analyse powder feedstock used in additive manufacturing. In this paper, we demonstrate a dedicated workflow for this analysis method, specifically for Ti6Al4V powder typically used in commercial powder bed fusion (PBF) additive manufacturing (AM) systems. The methodology presented includes sample size requirements, scan conditions and settings, reconstruction and image analysis procedures. We envisage this method will support standardization in powder analysis in the additive manufacturing community. This is aimed at ultimately improving the quality of additively manufactured parts, through the identification of impurities and defects in powders. •MicroCT analysis of metal powders for additive manufacturing•Method describes a standard workflow simplifying usage of the technique•Sample requirements and image analysis workflow is described.

Keywords: Additive manufacturing; Characterization; MicroCT; Non-destructive testing; Particle; Powder; Standard method for microCT-based additive manufacturing quality control 4: metal powder analysis; Tomography; X-ray.