PostProcess and Fraunhofer to collaborate on optimising AM workflow
PostProcess Technologies Inc., Buffalo, New York, USA, reports that it will collaborate with the Fraunhofer Research Institution for Additive Manufacturing Technologies IAPT in order to further drive Additive Manufacturing to production scalability. As part of the collaboration to promote the end-to-end systemised digitisation of their fused deposition modelling (FDM) processes, Fraunhofer IAPT has installed a PostProcess® DECI™ support removal solution.
The use of soluble support structures is necessary for a majority of FDM parts, which must be removed in a subsequent process step. This comes with many disadvantages, such as unpredictable processing times, extended dry times and inconsistent results. To address these drawbacks, PostProcess Technologies developed the Volumetric Velocity Dispersion (VVD) technology and demonstrated a significant reduction of the FDM workflow with soluble supports. The goal of the new collaboration is to design a fully integrated and automated production line to produce FDM parts with a seamless support removal process.
Dr Philipp Imgrund at Fraunhofer IAPT, stated, “Based on our converging views regarding the industrialisation of Additive Manufacturing, for which post-processing is a crucial element, we are certain that the digitisation of the FDM process chain is a decisive step.”
Fraunhofer IAPT is additionally collaborating with PostProcess Technologies on surface finishing technology for metal parts in the PostProcess® DECI Duo™ by additively manufacturing high precision test specimens in a multitude of materials and providing highly accurate measurements and analysis of the finished parts. This is said to the beginning of what will be an ongoing partnership, dedicated to advancing additive as a full-fledged Industry 4.0 solution.
“We are proud to be collaborating with such a well-respected pioneer in Additive Manufacturing research and look forward to continually develop new data-driven innovations for additive with the help of this new partnership,” commented Florian J Künne, General Manager for DACH & APAC, PostProcess Technologies.
