Design and Fabrication of a Powder Cleaning Apparatus for Additively Manufactured Complex Parts

Johansen, Nathan M.; Nicoletti, Lucio C.; Abenante, Eliana; Hadden, Geoffrey M.

Student Work

Design and Fabrication of a Powder Cleaning Apparatus for Additively Manufactured Complex Parts Public

Additive manufacturing, specifically metal powder bed fusion, has various applications in several major industries. After production, parts need to be cleaned to remove the leftover powder. These powders can create a significant hazard during post processing and part use. There needs to be a reliable technique that abides by safety constraints and removes powder thoroughly; the project goal is to solve that problem. This team focused their research on the fundamental issue of post fusion powder removal. A prototype apparatus was designed, analyzed, and constructed to remove powder from powder bed fusion parts. Future testing can be done with this prototype to determine usability, efficiency and compliance with safety factors.

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