RE: powder packing density!!!

I've always wondered, what's the packing density for spheres?

Bear in mind most powders have a range of sizes, hence tighter packing =
is obtained as the smaller particles fill up the spaces between the =
bigger ones. Also when dealing with powder, other factors such as flow =
are affected by non-round shapes.

Michael W Miller (michael.w.miller@boeing.com) =20
The Boeing Company M/C 45-17 A-2329 206-655-3289
Rapid Product Manufacturing 655-4366 655-4365 655-2262 =20
http://dmp-rpm.web.boeing.com/splash.htm

Disclaimer: Engineer and out the other!
Experience is something you get right after you need it.

-----Original Message-----
From: Toby Gill [mailto:t.j.gill@liverpool.ac.uk]=20
Sent: Friday, February 20, 2004 4:34 AM
To: rp-ml@rapid.lpt.fi
Subject: powder packing density!!!

Thought this may be of interest to some,

It has just been published that M& M sweets pack together more densely =
then=20
perfect spheres when randomly jumbled in a container.
It was also discovered that by stretching the M&M shape (so elliptical,=20
like an almond) in computer simulations, a packing density approaching =
the=20
packing fraction of 0.74 was achieved.

This seems to me to be important to anyone involved with producing=20
components from powders, be it by conventional methods or by rapid=20
manufacturing techniques. Does anyone have any comments/thoughts on this =

development?

P.S. I have just finished a PhD based on SLS and am currently looking =
for=20
employment. Anyone who has any vacancies arising in the near future =
please=20
contact me at the email address above.

Regards

Toby Gill
Received on Mon Feb 23 16:26:09 2004