Solukon’s new ultrasonic depowdering system selected by Exploration Company for rocket parts manufacturing

January 22, 2025

Solukon CEO Andreas Hartmann and Hélène Huby, CEO of the Exploration Company in front of the Solukon SFM-AT350-E (Courtesy Solukon)
Solukon CEO Andreas Hartmann and Hélène Huby, CEO of The Exploration Company in front of the Solukon SFM-AT350-E (Courtesy Solukon)

Solukon, based in Augsburg, Germany, has announced that The Exploration Company, Planegg, Germany, has purchased an SFM-AT350-E machine, as well as the SPR-Pathfinder software, to depowder rocket components.

The SFM-AT350 range is the company’s best-selling depowdering system for medium-sized components weighing up to 100 kg. The E-version of the depowdering system used by The Exploration Company uses piezoelectric ultrasonic excitation to clean laser-melted metal parts particularly quickly and gently. This newly developed technology enables a silent and efficient cleaning process.

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Why intelligent depowdering is key in space industry

The production of rocket components for the Nyx space capsule requires maximum precision in all production steps, explains Solukon. To ensure that everything runs smoothly during the flight of the space capsule, additively manufactured components must be completely free of powder.

“With the SPR-Pathfinder software, we calculate in advance how the component must be moved so that all the powder runs out. This enables us to achieve reliable cleaning results and clean components in series,” said Senior Additive Manufacturing Engineer Maxi Strixner.

Cleaning can also be pre-simulated with the SPR-Pathfinder. This allows developers to see whether the components can be completely cleaned or whether the geometry needs to be adapted for better post-processing as early as the design phase.

Sustainability in rocket construction

“Our main focus is on the development of reusable space capsules for the transportation of payloads and people into space,” explained CEO and founder Hélène Huby.

The production process is also able to be more sustainable through the addition of the SFM-AT350-E. During the cleaning process, the powder is collected without contamination and can be reused for further presses after sieving, resulting in significant material savings.

In addition, piezoelectric frequency excitation is said to offer an advantage over conventional pneumatic vibrators as significantly less compressed air is required, which enables further savings.

www.solukon.de

www.exploration.space

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