| dc.description.abstract | The design of porous molds in powder metallurgy demands high-quality powder distribution in pressing machines, directly impacting the mechanical properties and dimensions of the final product. Powder Feeding Shoes (PFS), primarily composed of metal materials, face limitations in traditional machining methods, hindering the production of customized and intricately contoured designs. With the advancement of industrial technology, the incorporation of Fused Deposition Modelling (FDM) in PFS production has been explored. However, challenges persist due to inadequate surface roughness, impeding improvements in powder feeding device performance and posing risks of powder mixing when different materials are used. This paper employs Stereolithography (SLA), a light-curing technology, to enhance the surface roughness of PFS, aiming to improve the quality of powder feeding.
Considering the aforementioned challenges, this study conducts a comparative analysis of FDM and SLA technologies within the powder metallurgy production process. The research is structured into three main sections. In the first section, the focus is on confirming optimal parameters for SLA 3D printing, emphasizing size and surface roughness. Given that print angles impact the surface roughness of layered manufactured products, experiments were conducted on specific parts of the powder feeding shoe. Three different angles (5°, 45°, 85°) between the feeding shoe components and the printing platform were designed, with the results indicating that a 5° angle yielded the optimal printing parameters. In the second section, FDM and SLA powder feeding shoes were installed on the machine and produced under identical parameters. The study compares pressing height and weight of the green compacts, followed by an analysis using Process Capability Indices (PCIs). Results reveal that SLA-produced green compacts exhibit superior powder feeding quality, whereas FDM-produced green compacts exhibit poor pressing height data, nearing the lower limit. In the third section, post-sintering, the shrinkage rate of FDM is found to be 0.017% lower than that of SLA, deviating from the theoretical value of 0.8%. This suggests insufficient initial powder filling density during FDM green compact production, impacting mold design and resulting in an inability to achieve the anticipated shrinkage ratio. In conclusion, SLA-produced Powder Feeding Shoes show promise in enhancing powder feeding quality, addressing challenges associated with uneven powder feeding. This research contributes valuable insights to the optimization of 3D printing technologies in the production of intricate components in powder metallurgy. | en_US |