- Published: December 12 2019
New network AMP+ guarantees efficiency, sustainability and occupational safety in the SLM process
Within the new corporate network AM Powder Plus (AMP+) the companies assonic Dorstener Siebtechnik GmbH, Solukon Maschinenbau GmbH and ULT provide an integrated solution for automated part and powder handling in the SLM process (selective laser melting) for the first time. The end-to-end process combines the safe and particularly automated depowdering of AM components with qualified processing and recycling of surplus metal powder. Unmelted powder is collected, sifted, dried, and then returned in its original state to the production process. The solution guarantees a safe, dry process atmosphere as well as ensuring compliance with OSH regulations.
Assonic develops and manufactures high-end sieving machines whose screens are excited by ultrasound at frequencies of between 30 and 38 kilohertz. In addition, low-frequency vibration of the specially designed screening media ensure highly efficient sieving processes. By introducing fresh powder and deployment of a drying method developed jointly with ULT, the process leads to consistently high powder quality, which is indispensable in quality-assured metal PBF production.
This conditioning knowhow meets with Solukon’s extraction and powder removal technology. Since its launch in 2013, Solukon has acquired globally well-known industry customers, for whom the Solukon machines automatically remove powder from AM components almost without any manual work. Thanks to programmable rotation of the parts, these systems are far superior to manual methods and make an important contribution to the industrialization of AM production with their high quality, reproducible cleaning results.
ULT as third partner contributes its air treatment knowhow to the overall solution. High-tech fume extraction technologies ensure continuous cleaning of inert gases, which are mandatory in PBF manufacturing processes. In addition, ULT offers solutions for highly efficient air-drying, a key function for the stable operation of metal PBF systems. When the fine metallic powder materials absorb humidity, they become unusable for sensitive PBF systems, especially as they tend to form clumps and oxidize. In addition, the fume extraction technology ensures compliance with occupational safety regulations, explosion protection practices and clean workplace solutions along the entire process chain, including post-processing.
The combined expertise of the AMP+ partners are the building blocks of the overall solution: efficient powder preparation, automated powder removal and a comprehensive approach to air preparation and conditioning. AMP+ now offers industrial users worldwide integrated solutions that are also available as individual modules.