With the launch of its SFM-AT350-E depowdering system, Solukon has prolonged the vibration choices inside automated depowdering with ultrasonic excitation.
Going past the mix of automated rotation and focused vibration, Solukon’s SFM-AT350-E resolution gives enhanced depowdering in lengthy and slim channels.
One firm to have benefited from the brand new system is justairtech, a producer of extremely environment friendly cooling methods that use air as a refrigerant, primarily concentrating on knowledge facilities and industrial cooling wants. Having additively manufactured a Fractal Warmth Exchanger, which is designed to be 4-5 occasions increased effectivity than typical methods, justairtech turned to the SFM-AT350-E system to take away extra powder from the half’s tight channels.
How the method unfolded
Earlier than the ultrasonic depowdering course of within the SFM-AT350-E, a pre-cleaning was performed. There was a time frame between the primary and second cleansing throughout which the part was uncovered to regular room air. It will probably subsequently be assumed that the powder remaining contained in the half reacted with moisture from the encircling air, which might additional complicate the depowdering course of.
The depowdering course of was carried out on the SFM-AT350-E with everlasting ultrasonic excitation and with out an choice for a pneumatic vibrator or excessive frequent knocker. Throughout the depowdering, a excessive impression blasting gun was additionally used to loosen the powder. Throughout depowdering in automated mode (swiveling angle 60°-220°, rotating and swiveling velocity 10°/s with ready occasions of 5 seconds in every place), a powerful powder movement was detected. All in all, the ultrasonic depowdering means of this Fractal Warmth Exchanger on the Solukon SFM-AT350-E took 337 minutes. Regardless of pre-cleaning, greater than 1.9 kg of stainless-steel powder that had hooked up may very well be eliminated. The Warmth Exchanger is now fully depowdered.
This use case clearly demonstrates that ultrasonic excitation could make a major distinction when coping with slim, lengthy channels. Significantly extra powder was eliminated in comparison with typical pre-cleaning utilizing vibration and knocking. Ultrasonic cleansing with the SFM-AT350-E is one other highly effective instrument in Solukon’s complete industrial depowdering toolbox. Nonetheless, the selection of excitation technique nonetheless closely depends upon the geometry of the half.
“The powder removing take a look at impressively confirmed that even powder that will get caught in part areas which are extraordinarily troublesome to entry – in our case over 1.9 kg – may be eliminated routinely. The comparability with the goal weight of the warmth exchanger reveals that the take a look at with Solukon was extraordinarily profitable and that the part is now freed from powder. This not solely gives us with the required course of reliability, but in addition strengthens our confidence within the industrial sequence utility of additively manufactured parts.” – Philipp Komurka, Head of Product Improvement & Know-how Additive Parts & Testing at justairtech.
Half dimensions (incl. construct plate): 350 x 350 x 350 mm
Printer with which the half was manufactured: EOS M 400-4
Materials: EOS Stainless Metal 316L
Software: Fractal Warmth Exchanger
Construction / floor: Complicated inside geometry with many horizontally working, lengthy and slim channels; Channel opennings of assorted geometrical shapes; Unfold over the complete base space, roughly midway up: an space (100 – 150 mm excessive) in which there’s a vertical grid with extraordinarily small gaps (“channels” of 0.5 x 0.5 mm).
Smallest diameter of inside characteristic: 0.5 x 0.5 mm
Length of automated depowdering: 337 min
Depowdering system: Solukon SFM-AT350-E with ultrasonic excitation
Mode used: Computerized mode + handbook mode