Evaluating Flowability of Additive Manufacturing Powders, Using the Gustavsson Flow Meter

• Published in: European Congress and Exhibition on Powder Metallurgy. European PM Conference Proceedings pp. 1 - 6
• Main Authors: Mellin, Pelle, Lyckfeldt, Ola, Harlin, Peter, Brodin, Håkan, Blom, Henrik, Strondl, Annika
• Format: Conference Proceeding
• Language: English
• Published: Shrewsbury The European Powder Metallurgy Association 01.01.2016
• Subjects: Additive manufacturing; Flow velocity; Methods; Nickel alloys; Particle size; Product design

The Gustavsson flow meter (including standard ISO-13517) is in this paper used to measure flow rate of fine AM powders. In the current paper, the results are compared to the Hall flow meter and a Freeman FT4 powder rheometer in terms of success of measuring these AM powders. The robustness is clearly superior to the Hall flow meter. Compared to using the rheometer, the Gustavsson flow meter is faster and simpler to use; however, other powder-aspects are evaluated since little correlation was found. All methods of characterizing the flowability could distinguish between (1) two alloys, and (2) if the alloys were new or used (in SLM), and (3) if they were dried or non-dried.