Nearly a decade in the past, producers of laser powder mattress fusion (LPBF) machines have been showcasing goals of a very automated steel 3D printing manufacturing facility. Visions like Idea Laser’s AM Manufacturing unit of Tomorrow included animations wherein robots moved construct chambers and materials items to and from steel 3D printers whereas CNC and EDM robots eliminated elements from construct platforms. It’s taken a while, however that dream is starting to be realized and Solukon, an knowledgeable in LPBF processing automation, is among the many pioneers.

The most recent proof of that is the agency’s new Powder Assortment Unit for Steel, the SFM-PCU, which the Swedish firm goals to unveil at Formnext 2023. Because the trade ramps as much as serial manufacturing and the depowdering methods broaden in measurement, the dealing with of accelerating portions of residual powder has turn into a logistical problem. The SFM-PCU goals to handle this situation working in tandem with the corporate’s large-format SFM-AT1000-S de-powdering system.

Automated Steel 3D Printing Powder Assortment

As depowdering takes place, residual powder accumulates in a hopper on the backside of the SFM-AT1000-S. An built-in vacuum conveyor system within the SFM-PCU is triggered to hoover up the powder at a sensor-monitored switch level. This powder is then channeled by means of a hose into a large container.

The SFM-PCU. Picture courtesy of Solukon.

One of many standout options of the SFM-PCU is that the container is rollable and will be swapped throughout the operation. With sensors monitoring the container’s fill degree, which will also be inspected by means of massive home windows, the system gives real-time visibility into the method standing. By incorporating the SFM-PCU, Solukon ensures that the customers have zero direct contact with the powder materials, which stays in a closed system all through the depowdering course of.

The SFM-PCU is particularly designed to deal with massive volumes of powder, making it an excellent match for Solukon’s SFM-AT1000-S and, relying on the appliance, even the SFM-AT800-S. The unit’s substantial container quantity exceeds 100 liters, enabling its use along side as much as three single-material Solukon methods.

Solukon’s Associate Ecosystem

That is simply the newest within the Swedish firm’s automation merchandise. Taking a look at previous instruments, you’ll discover that Solukon tends to collaborate with bigger, knowledgeable corporations to create its merchandise. With CNC producer Reichenbacher Hamuel GmbH, Solukon was capable of introduce a mixed unpacking and depowdering station. Siemens enabled the event of software program for optimized depowdering. FESTO has labored with Solukon to clear powder from smaller cavities in 3D printed elements.

On this most up-to-date product, Solukon tapped Piab, a Swedish firm, for the vacuum conveyor used within the SFM-PCU. Piab boasts over 1,200 staff throughout greater than 25 gross sales places of work all through the world. Not solely is Piab thought-about a market chief in vacuum conveyor know-how, however it has been a earlier associate for Solukon in previous tasks involving automated unpacking and cleansing stations.

Steel 3D Printing Automation

As detailed in each the “Automation and Additive Manufacturing: Alternatives and Markets” and “Put up-Processing for Additive Manufacturing: Market Evaluation and Forecast” stories from Additive Manufacturing Analysis (previously SmarTech Evaluation), the automation of post-processing is vital for the commercial adoption of steel LPBF and reaching a market worth of greater than $1.8 billion by 2031. With a purpose to drive down labor prices and enhance throughput, post-processing must turn into more and more computerized. Which means each step, from design and printer prep to powder loading and unloading, are incorporating an increasing number of automation.

Whereas Solukon is the chief in powder post-processing, there may be loads of room for extra competitors. Which will come from polymer post-processing corporations like AMT, Rosler (AM Options), and Put up Processing or companies outdoors of the trade seeking to handle the quickly rising additive manufacturing market. Moreover, we’ll proceed to see different facets of the workflow turn into extra automated. As an illustration, AM-Move is focusing on conveyancing and dealing with, whereas 3YOURMIND focuses on half identification.

Idea Laser’s AM Manufacturing unit of Tomorrow idea, circa 2015. Picture courtesy of Idea Laser.

One attention-grabbing participant is 1000Kelvin, who’s utilizing synthetic intelligence to automate the method of optimizing the LPBF printer’s toolpath such that the half will be printed accurately the primary time. This doesn’t imply altering the CAD file to compensate for distortions throughout the construct, however truly making the printer work correctly to execute the specified half.

Altogether, we’ll see main producers lastly laying out all of those instruments in an built-in, largely lights-out manufacturing facility setting. If all goes in response to the plans of the world’s decision-makers, that is all however inevitable. The actual query then is, given the blinding price at which the Chinese language AM market is rising, is that this already taking place in China?

The worldwide debut of the SFM-PCU will happen at Formnext 2023, scheduled for November 7-10. Solukon cordially invitations trade professionals and fanatics to Sales space 12.0, D42, the place the SFM-PCU can be linked to an SFM-AT1000-S for reside demonstrations.