Digital Metal launches automated depowdering station for metal Binder Jetting process

July 19, 2021

Digital Metal has added the DPS 1000 automated depowdering station for metal Binder Jetting to its AM solutions (Courtesy Digital Metal)

Digital Metal, part of Sweden’s Höganäs Group, has launched the DPS 1000 depowdering machine, said to be the world’s first commercial automated depowdering station for metal Binder Jetting (BJT) Additive Manufacturing. The company also announced that a renowned German research institute is one of the first to invest in the new technology, along with a complete metal Binder Jetting system from Digital Metal.

“A key benefit of the DPS 1000 for Digital Metal customers is that it will free up time, and also bring consistency by removing the human factor from the equation,” stated Alexander Sakratidis, Sales and Marketing Manager at Digital Metal.

The German research institute’s mission is to industrialise Additive Manufacturing technologies to create resource-efficient products for the future.

“Metal Binder Jetting will enhance productivity and precision while at the same time reducing costs of metal Additive Manufacturing, which opens the door for series production,” stated the Head of Process Department at the institute. “However, one major technical challenge is depowdering of the green parts and we see a huge potential in working on automation solutions in this context.”

The DPS 1000 provides an automated depowdering solution for metal Binder Jetting (Courtesy Digital Metal)
Metal binder jetted parts undergoing the depowdering process (Courtesy Digital Metal)

The customer was said to be impressed with the DPS 1000’s ability to precisely remove metal powder from most geometries of any parts, with the added manual cleaning option making it possible to clean complex components after the initial program has removed most of the powder.

The institute believes automated depowdering will be key to the industrialisation of AM, “To date manual depowdering and cleaning have taken up most of the work hours in the Binder Jetting process. Automating this step makes the whole AM process cost efficient while ensuring more consistent part quality,” added the Head of Process Department at the institute.

Metal binder jetted parts depowdered (Courtesy Digital Metal)

Digital Metal’s DM P2500 Additive Manufacturing machine is based on its proprietary, high-precision Binder Jetting technology. The automatically calibrated moving parts in the machine have an accuracy of 1 µm, which is said to offer excellent repeatability in serial production. With a build volume of 203 x 180 x 69 mm, the DM P2500 allows a fast, flexible and cost-effective production of metal parts directly from CAD data.

“With this system, we can easily test multiply different powders to enhance the print quality and make more precise predictions on the shrinking of the sintering process. It convinces with its precision, and even very delicate structures can be printed. We also appreciate the collegial and professional atmosphere when working with Digital Metal. It makes it easy to find common ground for innovative projects.”

Digital Metal’s AM system, including its automated depowdering technology, can be viewed in action here.

www.digitalmetal.tech

www.iapt.fraunhofer.de

In the latest issue of Metal AM magazine

Download PDF
 

Extensive AM industry news coverage, as well as the following exclusive deep-dive articles:

  • Metal powders in Additive Manufacturing: An exploration of sustainable production, usage and recycling
  • Inside Wayland Additive: How innovation in electron beam PBF is opening new markets for AM
  • An end-to-end production case study: Leveraging data-driven machine learning and autonomous process control in AM
  • Consolidation, competition, and the cost of certification: Insight from New York’s AM Strategies 2024
  • Scandium’s impact on the Additive Manufacturing of aluminium alloys
  • AM for medical implants: An analysis of the impact of powder reuse in Powder Bed Fusion

The world of metal AM to your inbox

Don't miss any new issue of Metal AM magazine, and get the latest industry news. Sign up to our twice weekly newsletter.

Sign up

Discover our magazine archive…

The free to access Metal Additive Manufacturing magazine archive offers unparalleled insight into the world of metal Additive Manufacturing from a commercial and technological perspective through:

  • Reports on visits to leading metal AM part manufacturers and industry suppliers
  • Articles on technology and application trends
  • Information on materials developments
  • Reviews of key technical presentations from the international conference circuit
  • International industry news

All past issues are available to download as free PDFs or view in your browser.

Browse the archive

Looking for AM machines, metal powders or part manufacturing services?

Discover suppliers of these and more in our comprehensive advertisers’ index and buyer’s guide, available in the back of Metal AM magazine.

  • AM machines
  • Process monitoring & calibration
  • Heat treatment & sintering
  • HIP systems & services
  • Pre- & post-processing technology
  • Powders, powder production and analysis
  • Part manufacturers
  • Consulting, training & market data
View online
Share via
Copy link
Powered by Social Snap