In recent years, vertical industries such as aerospace, where high efficiency drives the way components are manufactured, have continuously pushed the boundaries of what is possible with Additive Manufacturing. At the same time, some 3D printers powered by laser powder bed fusion (LPBF) field have become a staple in the market for large-scale parts in record time, namely the NXG XII 600E system from Nikon SLM Solutions or the AMCM M 8K system from AMCM GmbH. For parts that are up to 1.5 meters high or parts that have built plate sizes of 820 x 820 mm and weigh at least several hundred kilograms, postprocessing must be automated. There is no other way to handle parts of this size.
Solukon: The depowdering system supplier for the largest formats ever since 2015
Solukon started back in 2015, the year it was founded, with a system designed for the largest machine on the market at the time, the Xline 2000R from Concept Laser measuring 800 x 400 x 500 mm. As early as 2020, Solukon impressively proved its depowdering expertise in the large-scale part segment when it launched the SFM-AT1000-S, a system that rapidly established itself as the market leader. The comprehensive experiences acquired since then have informed the development of an even larger system for metal parts. Solukon introduces the SFM-AT1500-S, a depowdering system that responds to the depowdering challenges in the heavy load segment at the highest level.
Which parts can the new depowdering system accommodate?
The SFM-AT1500-S is currently the largest metal depowdering system from Solukon. It can accommodate parts with dimensions of 600 x 600 x 1500 mm or 820 x 820 x 1300 mm with a maximum weight of 2100 kg, including the build plate – an immense intake weight for depowdering systems. This makes the SFM-AT1500-S the ideal depowdering system for heavy-duty requirements and dimensions.
Maximum capacity, minimum footprint
Space in production is in high demand yet often limited, especially where parts with enormous dimensions are produced. This is why the system is as compact as possible. With special drive technology, Solukon has succeeded in making the system very narrow. The structure is also arranged so flat that no platforms or stairs are necessary to load the parts. This makes the system unique in terms of its footprint and extremely safe and convenient when loading and handling particularly large components. “The system saves space, is relatively easy to transport and easy to install since there is no time-consuming assembly work necessary. It’s basically a plug-and-play machine”, says CEO/CTO Andreas Hartmann from Solukon.
Adjustable vibration of massive parts: A special challenge
To make the powder flow, the massive parts must be made to vibrate strongly. However, the pneumatic vibrations must not be transmitted to the rest of the system, which is why Solukon developed a completely new decoupling concept. The part is made to vibrate optimally in any position, while the rest of the chamber is immune to the vibration. In addition, a newly developed, ultra-robust drive technology is used to move the parts, which can weight up to 2.1 tons.
Top Solukon quality for extraordinary requirements
Top machine quality, maximum safety with inerting for reactive materials and reliable cleaning results thanks to programmable 2-axis rotation are quality features that also apply to what is currently the largest Solukon system.
. The chamber of the new SFM-AT1500-S is made of 100% stainless steel and the rotary table has four separately programmable compressed air lines for different configurations of vibrator, knocker and blower connections. Just like the SFM-AT1000-S, massive parts can be easily inserted with front-top-loading via crane. The SFM-AT1500-S is compatible with the SPR-Pathfinder® software, which automatically calculates the ideal motion sequence based on the CAD file of the part. Thanks to the integrated Digital Factory Tool, the depowdering procedure is fully transparent to users during cleaning. “Digital features are also essential in the large-scale part segment. Smart software is the only way to depowder complex structures without human programming effort. Plus, continuous tracking is the only way to achieve real transparency,” Hartmann explains.
Box Fact and Figures SFM-AT1500-S
| Max. part dimensions | 600 x 600 x 1500 mm or 820 x 820 x 1300 mm |
| Max. Part Weight (incl. Build plate) | 2100 kg |
| Compatible printers | Every LPBF printer in the large part segment, e.g. NXG XII 600E; AMCM M 8K |
| Special features | Extremely compact footprint
SPR-Pathfinder Digital-Factory-Tool |
| Industries | Aerospace, new space, transportation, defense |
Extreme amounts of powder require automated extraction
When depowdering the massive parts, significant amounts of powder accrue, and standard collection containers are too small. With the compatible SFM-PCU powder collection unit, the powder can be safely extracted and collected in a large container in a process monitored by sensors. Upon request, the SFM-AT1500-S machine can be made compatible with other manufacturers’ powder conveying systems.
The next steps
The SFM-AT1500-S depowdering system is being launched at this year’s Formnext at booth 12.0, D71. Immediately afterward, it will be delivered to two customers who have already purchased the first units. In the dynamic AM field, the boundaries of the feasible are nowhere near being reached. At Solukon, our mission is to always supply the right depowdering equipment for an extraordinary challenge. Thus, we keep discussing with leading aerospace manufacturers in Europe and the US.
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