Solukon SFM-AT1500-S installed at Nikon AM Technology Center for large-format depowdering
May 27, 2025
Solukon, based in Augsburg, Germany, reports that Nikon SLM Solutions has installed a Solukon SFM-AT1500-S depowdering system at the Nikon AM Technology Center in Long Beach, California, USA. The SFM-AT1500-S was chosen to process the large components produced on Nikon SLM Solutions’ NXG 600E metal Additive Manufacturing machine.
The NXG 600E Laser Beam Powder Bed Fusion (PBF-LB) AM machine can manufacture components up to 1,500 mm tall in a single piece. To complement this, Nikon SLM Solutions required Solukon’s largest metal depowdering solution. The SFM-AT1500-S can accommodate parts with dimensions 600 x 600 x 1,500 mm or 820 x 820 x 1,300 mm, and can support a maximum weight of 2100 kg.
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Once additively manufactured, the complete build can be lifted from the AM machine into the SFM-AT1500-S by crane. When the roof is opened, the frame of the depowdering system folds up completely, making it much easier to load the components.
The SFM-AT1500-S enables fully automated, programmable cleaning of complex structures and channels. The SPR-Pathfinder software is intended to make it easier to calculate how the component needs to be moved in the machine, analysing the CAD file of the component and calculating the ideal movement pattern. This calculation can take place as soon as the CAD file has been created, allowing users to simulate depowdering during the design process and see whether their geometry can be depowdered successfully.
“Maximum capacity, minimum structure was one of the guiding principles when designing the system. This means that the system can accommodate extremely large components, but at the same time has a very narrow design. This is because space in production sites is very valuable and limited, especially in modern production environments,” stated CEO/CTO Andreas Hartmann, who developed the SFM-AT1500-S.
Gerhard Bierleutgeb, Chief Operating Officer at Nikon SLM Solutions, commented, “At our Nikon AM Technology Center in Long Beach, we offer our customers a machine portfolio that meets the highest demands. With the SFM-AT1500-S from Solukon, we have installed the ideal system for the postprocessing of highly complex, very large components. We were already in close contact with the Solukon team during the concept phase, so that our wishes were incorporated into the development of the depowdering system.”
When depowdering massive parts, significant amounts of powder accrue and standard collection containers are too small. This was said to be why Nikon SLM Solutions also purchased the SFM-PCU powder collection unit from Solukon. With the SFM-PCU, the powder can be safely extracted and collected in a large container in a process monitored by sensors.
“We would like to thank Nikon SLM Solutions for their confidence in our technology,” added Hartmann. “For optimum production conditions, the printing process and automated depowdering must be closely interlinked. With the SFM-AT1500-S, we have achieved this perfectly, as our depowdering system is precisely tailored to the needs of Nikon SLM Solutions customers.”
