M&H, a provider of design, 3D metal printing, surface treatment and finishing services, has added an automated depowdering system to its production environment. The Austrian company wanted to ensure the metal 3D printed parts it produces meet the standards of their vertical industry.
The company’s choice goes for the SFM-AT1000-S, an automated powder removal system manufactured by German machine manufacturer Solukon, and that was upgraded in 2023.
The automatic powder removal system is specially designed for cleaning and post-processing 3D-printed parts. In particular, large and heavy metal components with a height of up to 1,000 mm and a maximum weight of 800 kg as well as tasks with particularly high post-processing requirements can be freed from powder residues particularly efficiently on the powder removal system, Solukon explains.
For M&H-CEO Patrick Herzig, the key benefit lies in the precision of the system: “With the Solukon system, we can efficiently and thoroughly remove powder residue from complex parts with internal channels and cavities. This feature is a decisive advantage, as such complex geometries often present a challenge in post-processing and powder residues in the components could mean a loss of performance. With the introduction of the SFM-AT1000-S, we are setting new standards in the post-processing of 3D-printed parts in titanium, aluminum, stainless steel and materials such as Scalmalloy and Inconel. This technology enables us to further increase the quality of our products and make our production processes more efficient and even safer through series cleaning.”
The machine will serve the specific needs of the aerospace and Formula 1 industries.
For those who are not familiar with Solukon systems, you should note that two endlessly rotating axes with servo drive ensure the component moves along the programmable path whereas a built-in high-frequency knocker also loosens powder clumps in particularly narrow channels. The Solukon SFM-AT1000-S can enable the processing of parts produced with reactive materials as it can be inerted with inert gas and ensure safety working conditions.
“The SFM-AT1000-S, sets new standards in the manufacturing industry – also thanks to its compatibility with our innovative SPR-Pathfinder® software. With this unique software, individual motion patterns can be calculated automatically for each component based on the CAD file. By optimizing and automating their post-processing procedures, we offer our customers – like M&H – a clear competitive advantage. With the Digital-Factory-Tool, a sensor and interface kit, our partners also have maximum transparency over the depowdering process,” explains Andreas Hartmann, CEO and CTO of Solukon.
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