Page 18 - 3D Metal Printing Magazine Winter 2022

3D Formnext 2021 Powders and Material
Handling
Solukon Depowdering-Machine Family Handles Parts
from Small to Large
Solukon rolled out the SFM-AT350 (pic- tured), an advanced depowdering system for medium-sized metal parts. Its turntable features endless rotation while the horizontal axis swivels 270 deg., enabling depowdering of parts with com- plex internal channels and hard-to-access geometries. The machine depowders workpieces weighing to 60 kg and in sizes to 350 by 350 by 420 mm. Addition of the
AT350 to the line gives four machine options for part-depowdering.
Solukon also displayed the family’s largest member, the SFM-AT1000-S, which handles workpieces to 800 kg. in sizes to 600 by 600 by 1000 mm. This machine “is ideal for large and heavy parts with complex internal channels,” says Marina Haugg, marketing and public relations manager for Solukon, who described machine attributes for 3DMP at Formnext, “making it ideal for aero- space applications.”
The SFM-AT1000-S features two pro- grammable, servo-driven endless-rotating axes, enabling it to move a part along any path to aid in depowdering channels and
challenging geometries.
All Solukon machines employ Smart
Powder Recuperation (SPR), where pro- grammable rotation around two axes and adjustable vibration within a protected atmosphere remove residual powder from laser-fused parts for contamination-free collection that enables reuse.
Solukon: www.solukon.de
Powder Hopper Part of Carpenter Focus on Closed-Loop Safe Powder Handling
Carpenter Additive is known for mate- rial expertise in AM. A trend toward larger AM machines as the industry migrates toward volume production printing means that a single machine may hold as much as $100,000 worth of powder. Keeping that powder prime all the away from atom- ization through printing, and after that through reclamation and reuse, is a major focus of Carpenter Additive.
On display was a Carpenter Additive hopper, key in enabling safe transporta- tion of powders and part of a closed-loop solution from the point of atomization to loading powder into the AM machine. Ergonomic stainless-steel hoppers from Carpenter Additive allow safe transporta- tion of large amounts of powder, mini- mizing the risk of material contamination. Designed exclusively for AM metal pow-
ders, the hoppers offer material capacity to 850 kg, and allow for powder to be transported under inert conditions. The hoppers are designed and clearly labeled to be alloy-specific, with the option of a unique QR code to link to the optional software for monitoring and control trace- ability, and for inventory management.
Carpenter Additive, through its Pow- derLife portfolio, works with AM-part pro- ducers on powder-management and -han- dling solutions specifically tailored to individual AM processes and facilities. The PowderLife portfolio includes material advisory services; safe powder-handling hardware for industry operators; mitigated powder-exposure risk through smart bulk transportation; data used to drive decision making during the AM process; extended powder reuse quantified through data ana- lytics; and material optimized to deliver maximum economics.
Carpenter Additive: www.carpenteradditive.com
DM 4140 Powder Added to Digital Metal Binder Jetting Process
Digital Metal AB showcased numerous detailed parts produced via a binder-jet- ting process developed by Höganäs. This technology enables the production of highly complex objects with superior sur- face finish and repeatable accuracy, according to Alexander Sakratidis, the company’s sales and marketing manager, who detailed for 3DMP the process and parts it produces. Besides developing, manufacturing and selling printers, the company also offers small-volume or mass-production printing services, and recently has expanded its efforts in North America.
At the show, Digital Metal announced that it has added low-alloy DM 4140 steel powder to its binder jetting system, ideal for components exposed to high loads. In collaboration with Hyundai Motors, Digital Metal developed and certified DM 4140 to manufacture gearbox control fin- gers using binder jetting. The material is printed with an ink commonly used for other steel and nickel-based alloys, although, as company officials note, the
16 | 3D METAL PRINTING • WINTER 2022
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