Session: 03-12 Metals: Simulation, Modeling, and Training II

Paper Number: 96732

96732 - Open-Source Virtual Powder-Bed Generation for Selective Laser Melting (Slm) Additive Manufacturing 

Additive manufacturing (AM) technologies are gaining a lot of traction, Selective Laser Melting (SLM) is the most popular AM process, it’s enables complexes geometries design while having good thermo-mechanical properties.   In this study, high fidelity particle scale descrete element model DEM is developed using open-source codes LIGGGHTS for powder-bed generation. A vertical spreader blade was designed with a thin gap between the blade and the surface of the build plate and moved at specific velocities to spread the metallic powder across, resulting in the deposition of a thin powder layer. The dynamic behavior of powder particles during spreading process was simulated, aiming to obtain powder layer packing features. Modeling powder particle size distribution, flowability and  angle of repos resulted in a more realistic powder-bed. Powder-bed modeling and analysis carried out in this study could be used to other different materials, morphologies and surface properties. 

The preliminary results showed that the process conditions control the quality of the powder layer and that the velocity profile in the shear layer in front of the gap is critical to the final deposited layer packing fraction. Furthernore, varying the height between the spreader blade and the build plate which changes the gap thickness can also influence the layer's packing fraction.

Presenting Author: Abdelkrim Bouabbou Euro-mediteranean university of Fez

Presenting Author Biography: Abdelkrim Bouabbou. Holder of M.sc in Energy Engineering from the Euro-Mediterranean University of Fez, his<br/>work focuses on Numerical Modelling and Simulation with a proven ability to design, control and optimize physical systems. His current research activities at the Euro-Mediterranean University of Fez are in Selective Laser melting Additive Manufacturing and metallic powder re-usability.

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