VDI 3405 Blatt 1.1:2017-08

Following VDI 3405 Part 1 which introduced several testing methods for part production using the additive laser sintering manufacturing process, this standard presents concrete characteristics and best practise recommendations for material qualification. The characteristics and recommendations given in this standard are referenced on polyamide 12 (PA12). Polyamide 11 (PA11) was partially considered, too. The transferability onto other materials has to be proven in each individual case. The standard defines which characteristics have to be specified in a factory test certificate of the material to be processed. Further influencing factors onto the processability of the powder material are discussed, too. The specification of the particle size distribution, the measurement of the relative powder humidity, the melting and the flowing behaviour of the powder are discussed. The methods to determine the Hausner ratio and the melt volume flow rate (MVR) are presented. The significance of these measurements is discussed using the results of round robin tests.