Metal Additive Manufacturing Conference 2019

One of the most frequently asked question by users is how long metal powders can be used. MIMETE, the new Italian metal powders producer, defined an internal Design of Experiment to map the effect of atmosphere (from air to 100% argon), temperature and time on different powders, considering both various alloys and granulometric distribution. The properties analyzed after exposure were initially measured in fully equipped MIMETE laboratory, focusing mainly on chemical modification superficial characterization and technological properties as flowability and packing tendency. The further step of the experimental work shifted to industrial scale, taking into consideration metal powders only stored for some time or already used in LPB/SLM process just once or in multiple jobs, applying different approaches to mixing with new powder to fill printers. Properties of final components obtained from new and re-used powders will be compared.