Publication Date

2015

Document Type

Dissertation/Thesis

First Advisor

Sciammarella, F. M. (Federico M.)

Degree Name

M.S. (Master of Science)

Legacy Department

Department of Mechanical Engineering

LCSH

Mechanical engineering; Materials science; Physics; Acoustic emission--Research; Mechanical engineering; Materials science; Physics

Abstract

The Laser Engineered Net Shaping (LENS) Process uses an argon stream to direct metallic particulates at a molten pool created by a high-power Yb-fiber laser. The LENS process uses numerical control (NC) to manipulate the laser beam heat source in 3-dimensional space so parts can be built additively, layer-by-layer. The metal powder that is carried by the stream of argon gas creates a two-phase fluid, which can make measurement of mass flow rate difficult using conventional sensors. Maintaining a specified mass flow rate is essential in the quality control of this additive manufacturing process. An alternative device, an acoustic emission (AE) sensor, is proposed to monitor the rate of the metal powder flowing through the machine's nozzles. Pressure waves are created by the collisions of the powder with one another as well as the walls of the channel. This pressure is transduced by the piezo-electric element in the base of the AE sensor into electro-motive force. A mount was designed and created to facilitate non-intrusive flow monitoring using AE. The actual mass is monitored using a scale and a powder capture apparatus. The real mass over time and the RMS of the AE signal are compared and found to correlate closely. The system will be implemented in Optomec's LENS 850-M machine in order to provide feedback to the machine's operator regarding the condition of the powder delivery system. The relationship between the AE RMS and the actual flow rate will be characterized and used to estimate the actual flow using only AE. Further research is conducted on the frequency spectrum of the AE waveform, and a control system will be proposed.

Comments

Advisors: Federico Sciammarella.||Committee members: Matthew Gonser; Abhijit Gupta.

Extent

59 pages

Language

eng

Publisher

Northern Illinois University

Rights Statement

In Copyright

Rights Statement 2

NIU theses are protected by copyright. They may be viewed from Huskie Commons for any purpose, but reproduction or distribution in any format is prohibited without the written permission of the authors.

Media Type

Text

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