Investigating the Use of Differential Scanning Calorimetry in the Prediction of Part Properties in the High-Speed Sintering Process
Round 1
Reviewer 1 Report
Comments and Suggestions for AuthorsThe topic presented in this manuscript is interesting. The author tried to elucidate the dependence of mechanical performance of laser-sintered samples on the crystallization morphology, for PA materials, it was possible to build the relationship between them. Overall, I think such a work is deserved to be published on this journal, however, a revision is suggested as following in details.
first, the figures, such as 1, 2, 4, 5 and 7 are difficult to read. I suggest the authors can mark some words within each figure to indicate clearly what's the meaning of the characteristics.
second, some technical terms are not consistent with other literature, such as coupons, builds,etc.
These are not commonly used and can be replaced by samples.
Third, although it may be difficult to supplement a detection of the micro-structure morphology, but what the strictures were achieved under each HSS conditions.
Then we can understand why the tensile performance behaved as the reported.
One more question, the authors claimed that the DSC could be used to investigate the dependence of mechanical properties, but the principle is not unclear, why the HSS-printed samples will show the core-skin DSC behavior?
Personally, I suggest the authors to claim the above confusions and then make it more comfortable to understand.
Comments on the Quality of English Language
The English is fine except for some technical terms. I suggest to revise them to be more conventional and easy understand.
Author Response
Many thanks for your comments on our paper submission, and for your time spent reviewing it. Based on your comments, we have made the following changes to the paper, which we hope have addressed them to your satisfaction.
Comment 1 - The figures, such as 1, 2, 4, 5 and 7 are difficult to read. I suggest the authors can mark some words within each figure to indicate clearly what's the meaning of the characteristics.
Response 1 - Thank you for this comment - these figures have now been updated to be easier to read.
Comment 2 - Some technical terms are not consistent with other literature, such as coupons, builds,etc. These are not commonly used and can be replaced by samples.
Response 2 - We agree that ‘coupon’ is not standard terminology, and have replaced this with ‘sample’ throughout. The use of the term ‘build’ to define a single machine set-up and operation is quite standard throughout the Additive Manufacturing industry, so we have kept this terminology. To prevent any confusion we have explained what is meant by this term, the first time it is used in the paper.
Comment 3 - Third, although it may be difficult to supplement a detection of the micro-structure morphology, but what the strictures were achieved under each HSS conditions. Then we can understand why the tensile performance behaved as the reported.
Response 3 - We agree that this would potentially provide some additional insight into this study, but unfortunately we no longer have access to the samples from this work. We will keep this in mind for future studies.
Comment 4 - One more question, the authors claimed that the DSC could be used to investigate the dependence of mechanical properties, but the principle is not unclear, why the HSS-printed samples will show the core-skin DSC behavior?
Response 4 - The outside of a HSS sample is likely to include some unmelted powder, through the adhesion of additional particles onto the final layer of the manufactured sample during the application of blank powder ‘finishing’ layers; these layers are included to assist with the cooling process for the samples produced. The DSC-based approach presented here is not able to distinguish between these adhered powder particles, or unmelted particle cores within the part, meaning an incorrect value for degree of particle melt would be returned if this top layer of the sample is used for analysis. This is the reason analysis is performed on material from the centre of the sample. We have now clarified this in more detail in Section 2.2.
Reviewer 2 Report
Comments and Suggestions for AuthorsThe manuscript entitled “Investigating the use of Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC) in the prediction of part properties in the High-Speed Sintering (HSS) process” is in line with the Applied Science journal. This article is based on original research. The topic is up-to-date and important. It is connected with additive manufacturing technology. The manuscript has a proper composition, but before publication, it requires revisions about the presented content, including:
· Abstract: Revise the abstract, remove non-relevant information, and add measurable results. The abstract should be in one paragraph,
· Article: references should be according to the journal template
· Introduction: Add some practical examples for technology applications, for example: https://doi.org/10.3390/polym15112564
· Introduction (last paragraph): Lack of information about novelty aspects.
· Chapter 2.3.: Format the text. It it possible to add some photos of the samples with dimensions?
· Chapter 2: Information about manufacturer for each equipment are required (please see journal template).
· Chapter 2: What about statistical analysis?
· Discussion: add discussion as a separate chapter. Discussion with literature is very generic. It requires to be supplemented about a new literature – between 2021-2024. Add information for usefulness the research for technological applications.
· Conclusions: measurable conclusion should be presented.
Author Response
Many thanks for your efforts in reviewing our submission; we appreciate your suggestions, and hope we have addressed them suitably through the following changes.
Comment 1 - Abstract: Revise the abstract, remove non-relevant information, and add measurable results. The abstract should be in one paragraph
Response 1 - We have improved the conciseness of the abstract, condensing it to one paragraph, and including measurable results as requested.
Comment 2 - Article: references should be according to the journal template
Response 2 - We have ensured that all references are now in the correct format.
Comment 3 - Add some practical examples for technology applications
Response 3 - Some examples of applications of this technology have been included in the penultimate paragraph of the introduction.
Comment 4 - Introduction (last paragraph): Lack of information about novelty aspects.
Response 4 - We have now emphasised this more clearly in the mentioned paragraph.
Comment 5 - Chapter 2.3.: Format the text. It it possible to add some photos of the samples with dimensions?
Response 5 - We have corrected the issue with formatting - thank you for noting this. Unfortunately we do not still have access to the samples, but Figure 3 has been updated to more clearly indicate the dimensions of the relevant specimens.
Comment 6 - Information about manufacturer for each equipment are required (please see journal template).
Response 6 - Information about the HSS equipment used can be found in paragraph 2 of Section 2.1. DSC equipment is named in the first paragraph of Section 2.2, and the tensile test system used is mentioned in Section 2.3.
Comment 7 - Chapter 2: What about statistical analysis?
Response 7 - A new section (2.4) has been included to briefly discuss the use of Coefficient of Determination to assess the strength of correlations between our DPM measurements and the relevant Tensile properties in Section 3.
Comment 8 - Discussion: add discussion as a separate chapter. Discussion with literature is very generic. It requires to be supplemented about a new literature – between 2021-2024. Add information for usefulness the research for technological applications.
Response 8 - Although we understand the potential benefits of separating the results and discussion, we believe that in this case the narrative flows more easily for the reader when discussed together for each of the aspects covered. Where possible we have discussed more recent literature (in particular in Section 3.3), although it should be noted that the majority of the most pivotal literature relating directly to DPM and the effects of processing parameters in polymer powder bed fusion is pre-2020. As the intention of this paper was to determine whether, and how, the original DPM analysis for Laser Sintering could be adapted to High Speed Sintering, the majority of our discussion is focused on this original literature and on the changes to methodology which we have introduced. We hope this explanation is satisfactory for the reviewer. We have added information on the uses of the research into the Conclusions section.
Comment 9 - Conclusions: measurable conclusion should be presented.
Response 9 - Additional quantification has been included in the Conclusion, alongside more concise explanations as to how this approach might be used in practice.
Round 2
Reviewer 1 Report
Comments and Suggestions for AuthorsThe manuscript can be accepted as present.
Author Response
Many thanks for your time in reviewing our revision!
Reviewer 2 Report
Comments and Suggestions for AuthorsThe manuscript entitled “Investigating the use of Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC) in the prediction of part properties in the High-Speed Sintering (HSS) process” has been significantly improved, however it requires further changes as follows:
· Introduction: Add some practical examples for technology applications, for example: https://doi.org/10.3390/polym15112564
· Chapter 2: Information about manufacturer etc. is still missing in some points.
· Discussion is still very generic: add discussion as a separate chapter. Discussion with literature is very generic. It requires to be supplemented about a new literature – between 2021-2024. Add information for usefulness the research for technological applications.
Author Response
Thank you to the reviewer for their further comments, which we have addressed as below:
Comment 1 - Introduction: Add some practical examples for technology applications, for example: https://doi.org/10.3390/polym15112564
Response 1 - We have mentioned some additional examples that were referred to in the recommended paper (Page 2, line 49).
Comment 2 - Chapter 2: Information about manufacturer etc. is still missing in some points.
Response 2 - We have checked this thoroughly, and details of the equipment used can be found at the following specific locations:
- High Speed Sintering system - Page 4, line 124
- Bead-blasting system used for part clean-up - Page 5, line 138
- DSC system - Page 5, line 141
- DSC software - Page 5, line 165
- Tensile test system - Page 6, line 178
If the reviewer believes something remains missing, it would be helpful if they can provide specific details.
Comment 3 - Discussion is still very generic: add discussion as a separate chapter. Discussion with literature is very generic. It requires to be supplemented about a new literature – between 2021-2024. Add information for usefulness the research for technological applications.
Response 3 - We have added discussion as a separate chapter, and included further literature as requested. We have also been more specific about how this process could be used for technological applications.
Round 3
Reviewer 2 Report
Comments and Suggestions for AuthorsThe manuscript entitled “Investigating the use of Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC) in the prediction of part properties in the High-Speed Sintering (HSS) process” has been significantly improved, it requires only slight changes before the publication but they has character of editiorial corrections and can be done during the proofreading process.
