Automation of powder level reading in a tap density test

Sammanfattning: When using metal powder in any form of production, it needs to be stored, handled and transported. To do this effectively, it is of importance to know how the powders flow and this is governed by a behaviour called flowability. One method of assessing powder flowability is by comparing changes in powder density. The different types of densities are obtained from a tap density test, in which the reading of the powder volume is done through eye measurements. This report aimed to automate the volume reading of the test through image analysis, in order to increase the consistency and reliability of the test. The automation was done using the software ImageJ, where a macro was written to which a videorecording of a tap density test could be uploaded and automatically analysed. The result was a fully functioning macro, capable of analysing the entire test. Placing a strip of electrical tape around the cylinder enabled the powder volume to be tracked continuously. The automated readings were concluded able to provide additional information on how the powder behaved during the test itself and with a higher accuracy than using eye measurements. The method was also deemed less dependent on the person performing the test, despite a manually calibrated volume-scale. The macro achieved optimal results through some prerequisites, involving altering the lighting, background colour and camera placement.