Author:
Kobayashi Ryuichi,Yang Ming
Abstract
Purpose
Orange peel formation remains to be understood clearly because it is difficult to directly observe a laser-sintered process in a partcake. Therefore, this study aims to provide insight into the orange peel formation mechanism through the nondestructive observation of laser-sintered specimens and their surrounding powders.
Design/methodology/approach
This study observed polyamide 12 powder in the vicinity of a laser-sintered specimen via X-ray computed tomography (CT) scanning. The specimen for nondestructive observation was 3D modeled in a hollow box using 3D CAD software. The boxes built using a laser-sintering system contained unsintered surrounding powder and sintered specimens. The box contents were preserved even after the boxes were removed from the partcake. After X-ray CT scanning, the authors broke the boxes and evaluated the unevenness formed on the specimen surface (i.e. the orange peel evaluation).
Findings
Voids (not those in sintered parts) generated in the powder in the vicinity of the specimen triggered the orange peel formation. Voids were less likely to form in the build with a 178.5° powder bed than in the build with a 173.5° powder bed. Similarly, the increment in laser energy density effectively suppressed void formation, although there was a tradeoff with overmelting. Thin-walled parts avoided void growth and made the orange peel less noticeable.
Originality/value
To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this study is the first to observe and understand the relationship between voids generated in the powder in the vicinity of sintered parts and orange peel formation.
Subject
Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering,Mechanical Engineering
Cited by
3 articles.
订阅此论文施引文献
订阅此论文施引文献,注册后可以免费订阅5篇论文的施引文献,订阅后可以查看论文全部施引文献