NOTICE: Due to a lapse in annual appropriations, most of this website is not being updated. Learn more.
Form submissions will still be accepted but will not receive responses at this time. Sections of this site for programs using non-appropriated funds (such as NVLAP) or those that are excepted from the shutdown (such as CHIPS and NVD) will continue to be updated.
An official website of the United States government
Here’s how you know
Official websites use .gov
A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.
Secure .gov websites use HTTPS
A lock (
) or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.
Implementation of a Particle Tracking Method to Study Particle Spreading in Powder Bed Fusion Systems
Published
Author(s)
Eric Whitenton, Alkan Donmez, Aniruddha Das, Vipin Tondare, Justin Whiting
Abstract
Additive manufacturing is a rapidly growing and increasingly important set of manufacturing techniques. One of those techniques, powder bed fusion, is often used when making metal parts. The part is built up by spreading a thin layer of metal powder, melting that layer, and repeating. However, how that powder flows as it is spread can affect the ultimate part quality. Powder flow characteristics during spreading are poorly understood. This paper describes an image-based powder particle tracking method to better understand the motions of the particles during the powder spreading process. It presents preliminary data obtained from two prototype powder spreading testbeds. Such measurements should ultimately enable the validation of physics-based models for powder spreading as well as an understanding of the effects of bulk powder characteristics on the spreading performance.
Whitenton, E.
, Donmez, A.
, Das, A.
, Tondare, V.
and Whiting, J.
(2024),
Implementation of a Particle Tracking Method to Study Particle Spreading in Powder Bed Fusion Systems, Advanced Manufacturing Series (NIST AMS), National Institute of Standards and Technology, Gaithersburg, MD, [online], https://doi.org/10.6028/NIST.AMS.100-58, https://tsapps.nist.gov/publication/get_pdf.cfm?pub_id=957099
(Accessed October 6, 2025)