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.
Powder Spreading Testbed for Studying the Powder Spreading Process in Powder Bed Fusion Machines
Published
Author(s)
Justin Whiting, Eric Whitenton, Aniruddha Das, Vipin Tondare, Jason Fox, Michael McGlauflin, Alkan Donmez, Shawn P. Moylan
Abstract
The spreading of powder is an integral part of powder bed fusion-based additive manufacturing technologies; however, due to the complex nature and the number of interactions between particles, studying the powder spreading process is difficult. In order to gain insight into how the metal powder is spread in the powder bed fusion machines using a recoater, a spreading testbed is needed, which provides a method for recording the powder spreading process and characterizing the powder spread layer. The objective of this testbed is to study and try to establish fundamental relationships between bulk metal powder characteristics and powder spreading performance. Here, a fabrication of a powder spreading testbed (PST) is described. The minimum but necessary functionality of the PST has been discussed. The potential characterization methods for the powder spread layer have been proposed. This document serves as a guideline for the future development of the present testbed.
Whiting, J.
, Whitenton, E.
, Das, A.
, Tondare, V.
, Fox, J.
, McGlauflin, M.
, Donmez, A.
and Moylan, S.
(2023),
Powder Spreading Testbed for Studying the Powder Spreading Process in Powder Bed Fusion Machines, Advanced Manufacturing Series (NIST AMS), National Institute of Standards and Technology, Gaithersburg, MD, [online], https://doi.org/10.6028/NIST.AMS.100-56, https://tsapps.nist.gov/publication/get_pdf.cfm?pub_id=956611
(Accessed October 9, 2025)