William Rivera

Participant: PROMISE AGEP Research Symposium

William Rivera, Carlos Romero-Talamás
Department: Mechanical Engineering
Institution: University of Maryland, Baltimore County (UMBC)

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2016 RESEARCH SYMPOSIUM ABSTRACT

3D Printed Parts and Fusion

We present the design and preliminary results of a mass spectrometry system to assess vacuum compatibility of 3D-printed parts developed at the dusty plasma experiments at UMBC. A decrease in outgassing was observed when electroplated parts were inserted in the test chamber vs. non electroplated ones. Outgassing will also be tested under different stressful environments such as plasma and radiative heat. Heat generation will be produced by a titanium getter pump placed inside a 90̊ elbow, such that it does not coat the part. Plasma exposure of 3D printed parts will be achieved by connecting a vacuum line from the experiment chamber to the mass spectrometer. The signals from the RGA will be analyzed to see how the vacuum conditions fluctuate under different plasma discharges.

2015 RESEARCH SYMPOSIUM ABSTRACT

Vacuum Compatibility of 3D-Printed Materials

We present the design and preliminary results of a mass spectrometry system to assess vacuum compatibility of 3D-printed parts. The setup consists of sectional vacuum chamber with a residual gas analyzer (RGA), a radiation heater, windows, and access port for quick sample exchange. The signal from the RGA is analyzed by creating a system of equations that uses the calibration signal from a large number of molecules (cracking patterns) and the measured spectra. The equations are then inverted to find the most likely true elements in the chamber. The vacuum chamber is set up so samples can be inserted and retrieved without contaminating and compromising vacuum in the system. We perform this by having two connected chambers with independent vacuum pumps, and using one for sample access at atmospheric pressure, and then transferring the sample to the main chamber once vacuum is equalized. The equipment will be used as part of the Dusty Plasma Experiment at UMBC, since many of the plasma facing parts are 3D-printed. Mass spectra of electroplated plastic parts, which have a much better vacuum compatibility than non-plated plastic parts, will also be obtained and compared to those without electroplating, to assess ultra-high vacuum compatibility.

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BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH

I am currently pursuing a PhD in Mechanical Engineering at the University of Maryland Baltimore County (UMBC). I attended the University of Maryland College Park (UMD) for my undergraduate studies. I am a first generation college student and prospering as a doctorate student. Since childhood I have always had a curiosity on how things worked and this childhood curiosity has driven me to continue my education in Mechanical Engineering.

GENERAL SUMMARY OF GRADUATE RESEARCH

Currently I am working in Dr. Romero Talamás lab in the area of Dusty Plasmas. The project that I have been working on is Vacuum Compatibility of Plasma Facing materials. The benefit of using additive technology is to reduce manufacturing cost and have the ability to produce abstract geometry for plasma facing parts.