Pulsed pressurized powder feed system and method for uniform particulate

Abstract

A powder feed system for delivering a quantity of particulate material to a die cavity of a powder press is provided. The powder press has a table-like platen surface which is flush with and surrounds a die in which the die cavity sits, an upper punch appending from an upper ram and a lower punch. The powder feed delivery system includes a receptacle for receiving and delivering particulate material to the cavity. The receptacle has an ingress through which particulate material is received under pressure and an egress for registering with the interior of the cavity and through which particulate material is delivered under pressure from a feed conduit to the cavity. The feed conduit is attached at a first end to the receptacle ingress. At least one pressure generator is attached to a top end of a pressure vessel attached at a second end to the feed conduit. The pressure generator provides supra atmospheric pressure to push particulate material from the vessel into the die cavity when the die cavity is sealed from the atmosphere. The pressure generator is optionally used to fluidize the particulate material within the die cavity to create a substantially uniform density distribution of the particulate material within the cavity. At least one exhaust portal is provided for releasing pressure from within the die cavity.