AM Powder Plus network for efficient parts and powder handling
September 26, 2019
Assonic Dorstener Siebtechnik GmbH, Solukon Maschinenbau GmbH and ULT AG have announced the formation of a network, AM Powder Plus (AMP+), which will offer integrated solutions for highly automated parts and powder processing and handling in the Laser Powder Bed Fusion (L-PBF) Additive Manufacturing process.
This includes the collection, sifting, reprocessing and drying of surplus powder, with automated component removal and depowdering for clean transfer to post-processing. Unexposed powder can then be returned in a fully processable state, assuring occupational health and safety, dust explosion protection, and a clean working environment.
The AMP+ partners will reportedly pool their combined knowledge and experience in AM to offer these solutions to the industry. In practice, they stated that they have encountered blind spots in the L-PBF process chain that have so far prevented industrial users from making widespread use of this new technology. These shortcomings are concentrated on a comparatively short section of the process, between the completion of the build and the start of post-processing.
Currently, this blind spot results in a need for companies to conduct inefficient manual steps and consume unnecessarily high quantities of powder, the network stated. In addition, the challenge of avoiding explosion hazards and of airborne pollutants must be met for AM to truly succeed. AMP+ believes that its solutions can address each of these problems.
The AMP+ network will exhibit for the first time at this year’s formnext, November 19-22, Frankfurt, Germany.
