Metal 3D printing by powder bed fusion applying artificial gravity control

2021 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 19K14861
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Early-Career Scientists
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Review Section: Basic Section 18020:Manufacturing and production engineering-related
• Research Institution: Keio University
• Principal Investigator: KOIKE RYO 慶應義塾大学, 理工学部(矢上), 講師 (70781417)
• Project Period (FY): 2019-04-01 – 2022-03-31
• Keywords: 粉末床溶融結合 / レーザ / 高重力場 / 相似則 / 遠心機

Outline of Final Research Achievements

This study aims to clarify the positive effects of high gravity on powder bed fusion (PBF), one of 3D printing processes available for metals. By combining PBF unit and a centrifuge, the PBF fabrication tests were conducted up to 10G in this study. The experimental results showed that high gravitational PBF is able to reduce the residual failures by increasing the buoyancy force, suppress the spatter generation, and make the shape accuracy higher by its fine powder availability.

Free Research Field

生産工学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

高重力場が金属の溶融・凝固プロセスや粉体ハンドリング技術に対して与える良い影響を理論的，実験的に明らかにしたことは，今後の宇宙開発などの多様なアプリケーションを考慮すると，最先端科学技術の発展にもつながる技術開発に成功したといえる．また，ものづくりにおいて，加工精度や加工品質は極めて重要な指標であり，広く応用が始まっている3Dプリンタに対して加工精度を劇的に高めることは，あらゆる製品に付加価値を与えることにつながる．