Measuring powder stream densities based on high-speed imaging.
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The powder stream is slightly deviated by the recoil pressure in the laser beam.
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The deviation of particles is non-homogeneous and results in a better focusing.
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Some powder particles are disintegrated in the laser beam.
Abstract
Additive Manufacturing with aluminium alloys is a subject of increasing industrial interest. Directed Energy Deposition using high power lasers and a powder feed is a useful option but the interactions between the powder stream and the laser beam are not completely understood. It is well known that the powder particles heat up in the laser beam and some theoretical models predict that they can reach their vaporisation temperature and have their flight path altered by the associated recoil pressure. In order to learn more about these phenomena, powder streams were observed with a high-speed camera at different laser powers (up to 6 kW) and with three batches of powder (AlSi10Mg) of different particle sizes. The results showed an increase of powder focussing with increased laser power. In addition, some particles were found to disintegrate in the laser beam. It is demonstrated that particle disintegration is most likely to be caused by the momentum induced by the recoil pressure.
