Methods and apparatuses for ball milling to produce powder for additive manufacturing

An apparatus for producing a metallic powder through grinding, the apparatus comprising:

• a comminution component including an inlet to receive a metallic material at a first region within the comminution component and an outlet to dispense the metallic powder from a second region within the comminution component, wherein the comminution component is configured such that a first temperature at the first region is different by at least 20 degrees Celsius (° C.) than a second temperature at the second region;
• a plurality of grinding components to grind the metallic material, the plurality of grinding components being arranged within the comminution component;
• and
• a drive component, connected with the comminution component, to induce movement of the metallic material and the plurality of grinding components within the comminution component such that the metallic material is fragmented through contact with the plurality of grinding components at the first region within the comminution component and an external surface of the fragmented metallic material is altered at the second region within the comminution component to produce the metallic powder.

A method of producing powder through grinding, comprising:

• receiving, by an inlet of a comminution component, a metallic material at a first region of the comminution component;
• arranging a plurality of grinding components within the comminution component to grind the metallic material;
• introducing, by a drive component connected with the comminution component, movement of the metallic material and the plurality of grinding components such that the metallic material is fragmented through contact with the plurality of grinding components at the first region within the comminution component and an external surface of the fragmented metallic material is altered at a second region within the comminution component to produce the metallic powder;
• detecting, by a computer system, at least one condition within the first region or the second region;
• adjusting, by the computer system and based on the at least one condition within the first region, a second temperature in the second region such that the second temperature is different from a first temperature in the first region, or
• adjusting, by the computer system and based on the at least one condition within the second region, a first temperature in the first region such that the first temperature is different from a second temperature in the second region;
• and
• dispensing, by an outlet of the comminution component, the metallic powder from the second region of the comminution component.