Powder Bed Fusion Machine Performance Testing | NIST

INTRODUCTION While additive manufacturing (AM) is known as a “disruptive technology,” there are many ways an AM process is similar to conventional processing methods. For example, raw material is prepared for the processes: casting, forging, forming, or powder creation, etc. Then the process is performed by a machine on the prepared material, for example, by turning, milling, grinding, electrical discharge machining (EDM), laser drilling, powder bed fusion, etc. Finally, the processed part is typically post-processed—heat treatment, deburring, polishing, etc.—to obtain desired material properties, surface condition, etc.