The Boeing Company
ELECTROSTATIC SEPARATION OF IMPURITIES DURING POWDER ADDITIVE MANUFACTURING

Abstract:

Apparatus and methods for removing impurities from a powder bed. Embodiments include a powder bed containing powder usable in an additive manufacturing process, a recoater arm that traverses the powder bed to distribute the powder, a collector element connected to the recoater arm, and an electrostatic generator electrically connected to impart an electrostatic charge on at least the collector element and cause the impurities in the powder to adhere to the collector element.