An austenitic stainless-steel alloy has exceptional corrosion resistance and useful mechanical properties. 3D Printed Stainless Steel (Case Study)Ī recent study of a stainless-steel part created with additive manufacturing demonstrates XRD’s utility in examining the anisotropy of such a material. And since 3D printing involves depositing a material along an axis, understanding its anisotropy is critical knowledge. In crystallographic terms, anisotropy indicates unequal physical properties along different axes. “iso” means equal (as in isometric), and “an” means without (as in anesthesia which means “without feeling”). The root suffix of the word, “-tropic,” relates to direction (such as towards the direction of the sun). Understanding Anisotropy in Structured Materialsīecause material parameters may change during the additive process of 3D printing-if for example a new batch of feedstock is used, or output of the laser or heating source drifts-understanding the material’s anisotropy is important. The Thermo Scientific™ ARL™ EQUINOX 100 X-Ray Diffractometer is a benchtop instrument that can be situated in a plant near the manufacturing equipment, or on a chemistry bench in a laboratory. This is helpful in planning temperature treatment steps, analyzing the anisotropy of the printing process, or characterize the mechanical properties of the part. XRD is non-destructive and relatively fast. X-ray diffraction (XRD) is an ideal analytical technique to examine both metallic and polymeric 3D crystalline structures. Whether a researcher is experimenting with new formulation or in an inspection or a finished part, the ability to understand the printed part’s crystallography is an essential phase of the process. Most metals are crystalline in their solid state, and the crystalline structure of the manufactured part has a direct effect on its quality and function. Crystallography and 3D PrintingĬrystals are homogeneous, anisotropic solid-state 3-dimensional bodies whose constituent atoms, ion or molecules are periodically ordered. Understanding both processes is critical to the success of the method, whether in product development or in fabrication. This process uses a single melting temperature that fully melts the particles, or it uses a powder which is composed of materials with variable melting points that fuse on a molecular level at elevated temperatures. 3D printing processes that involve metals use a laser to scan and selectively fuse the metal powder particles, building a part layer-by-layer. Metals have several properties that polymers cannot replace. While a good deal of 3D printing uses polymer materials, additive manufacturing can also use metallic powders to create metal parts and pieces. 3D metal printer using laser sintering process
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