Volkmann to showcase Additive Manufacturing material handling system at Rapid + TCT
Pneumatic conveying systems manufacturer Volkmann, Inc., Bristol, Pennsylvania, USA, will showcase its new Additive Manufacturing Material Handling System (AMMHAS) at Rapid + TCT in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA, from May 9-11, 2017. According to Volkmann, the AMMHAS is designed specifically to enhance Additive Manufacturing technology when handling metal powders or toxic materials.
The AMMHAS system consists of three elements to recover any unused material, screen it, and finally return the material to the machine or a container for future use. It is available as a mobile unit or a fixed floor-mounted assembly. Developed using Volkmann’s pneumatic vacuum technology, it offers contained transfer of material from pick-up locations to the manufacturing unit and then through the capture, integrated screening and return-to-use stations. This high level of containment mitigates potential environmental issues and improves operator safety.
Volkmann stated that the AMMHAS has successfully been used in operations using metals and materials such as tungsten, cobalt, silver powder, iron, stainless steel, alumina, nickel chrome, copper, chrono K20, carbide dust, corundum and G.62 with bulk densities ranging from 1489-5462 kgf/m3 (93-341 lbs/ft3). The unit works in both a normal air environment and under an inert gas. Where inert transfer is required, the system is designed in a ‘closed loop’ so that inert gas is both contained and reused, avoiding the additional cost of large volumes of inert gas – in this version, a special configuration gas-tight electric pump is used to maintain system temperature and containment.
“We are very pleased to offer this system to the Additive Manufacturing industry,” stated Nick Hayes, President of Volkmann. “Having the ability to safeguard facilities with vacuum transfer of material, as well as reclaim and reuse these expensive materials, gives the industry cost savings that make its end product even more viable.”
Volkmann’s AMMHAS system will be on show at Booth #1247.
