Enabling Multi-Material Metal Additive Manufacturing Builds through Electrostatic Powder Spreading

Executive Summary

We will implement a unique powder spreading mechanism into a metal additive manufacturing machine that will enable fabrication of parts with multiple materials. This capability will greatly expand the metal additive manufacturing design space and enable the production of parts with unique mechanical, thermal, and chemical properties.

Publications, Presentations, and Patents

Wu, Ziheng, Alexander Wilson Heid, R. Joey Griffiths, Eric S. Elton. 2023. “A review on experimentally observed mechanical and microstructural characteristics of interfaces in multi-material laser powder bed fusion.” Frontiers in Mechanical Engineering 9, 1087021. https://doi.org/10.3389/fmech.2023.1087021

Elton, Eric S., Ziheng Wu, Michael Troksa, Gabe Guss. 2023. “Electrostatic powder spreading for metal powder bed fusion applications.” Additive Manufacturing 61, 103330. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.addma.2022.103330