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Manufacturing

Additive manufacturing

Powder Bed Fusion

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Powder bed fusion can produce functional parts by melting and fusing layers of powdered material (e.g. metal) with either a high-power laser or an electron beam. The process is repeated hundreds or thousands of times, building the metal piece layer by layer. Finally, when the object is complete, the excess powder is removed, revealing the printed structure. 

Learn more about our powder bed fusion efforts below. If you would like guidance on additive manufacturing efforts or a chance to use our resources, explore our various research opportunities and/or contact us.

A high-power laser spot scans back and forth over a layer of cobalt-chrome powder on NIST's powder bed fusion additive manufacturing machine. Where it touches, the powder melts and fuses to underlying layers until a fully dense 3D metal part is formed. The laser travels back and forth so fast that, in this still image frame, it appears to form a white hot stripe about 10 millimeters wide.
A high-power laser spot scans back and forth over a layer of cobalt-chrome powder on NIST's powder bed fusion additive manufacturing machine. 
Credit: Lane/NIST

Tools and Instruments

Learn about our instrumentation for powder bed fusion by clicking the plus icon (+) below.

Additive Manufacturing Metrology Testbed (AMMT)

The NIST Additive Manufacturing Metrology Testbed (AMMT) is a fully custom, open-platform laser powder bed fusion (LBPF) system to advance monitoring, controls, and metrology research. In addition to research specific to AM, the system employs a suite radiometric calibration and measurement instruments that enable the Temperature and Emittance of Melts, Powders, and Solids (TEMPS). Learn more about AMMT by watching video below and by visiting the Additive Manufacturing Metrology Testbed (AMMT) webpage.
 

 

NIST's 3D Printer Testbed
NIST's 3D Printer Testbed
This 3D printer builds objects by melting a fine metal powder with a laser. First, the surface is coated with metal powder. Then, a  high-power laser melts that powder in a particular pattern. The process is repeated hundreds or thousands of times, building the metal piece layer by layer. Finally, when the object is complete, the excess powder is removed. NIST researchers are studying this kind of 3D printing to give industry users tools for more control over their own 3D printing processes. Credit: Jennifer Lauren Lee/NIST



 

NIST AM publishes research about powder bed fusion for additive manufacturing. View some of our publications here.

Manufacturing, Additive manufacturing, Materials, Metrology and Standards

Contacts

Additive Manufacturing Program Coordinator

Created November 13, 2024, Updated December 11, 2024