Post-Processing
As additive manufacturing technologies experience greater use for batch, serial and mass part production, post-processing becomes increasingly relevant. Our main focus at 3dpbm is on digital additive part production—a market for which we have coined the acronym DAMP—so the need to produce fully finished parts and the enabling technologies to achieve this via AM have always represented a key area of interest.
One of the biggest hurdles to greater adoption of AM in production was always a tendency to underestimate the impact of cost-effectively post-process large series of prints. On unique, ultra-high-value parts such as prototypes and tools, post-processing is a relatively minor concern. But when it comes to post-process tens, hundreds and even thousands of parts in a few days, the challenges grow exponentially.
Producing fully finished parts presents significant challenges in the polymer AM market and it presents even bigger challenges in metal AM and ceramics AM. So much so that even metal PBF technologies, where part sintering/fusion takes place during the printing process, resulted more time-consuming in terms of their post-processing phase than binder jetting technologies, where debinding, infiltrations and sintering are all carried out as additional post-processes.
The segment for AM post-processes differs for each major technology but can be generally intended as including these main areas: Powder Removal and Sieving systems, Debinding and Sintering systems, Material and Parts Handling systems, Measurement and Inspection systems, Support Removal systems, and Thermal Treatment/UV Curing systems.
Today there is a much greater awareness of the various post processes that are required in all AM technologies, both through operators such as AM Solutions, PostProcess Technologies, AMT, Solukon and D-Lyte (among others) that focus specifically on automating AM and several other companies specializing in automated post-process solutions for injection molding and other traditional technologies now looking more closely at the AM market.
In this month’s AM Focus we will highlight many of these companies and their capabilities. For a full list of companies specializing in the various phases of pre- and post-processing AM solutions, make sure to visit the 3dpbm Index’s dedicated section on Automation and Post Process companies here.
-
Automated wax support removal solution launched by PostProcess
PostProcess has extended its automated and intelligent additive manufacturing post-process solutions with the addition of a new solution for wax support removal. After extensive development and testing, a new chemistry formulation, PLM-601-SUB, allows wax support removal on the most intricate and delicate build parts. This proven detergent plays a significant…
Read More -
Nippon Gases introduces AM-focused 3DPro gas product line
Through its 3DPro line of products, Nippon Gases, one of the world’s leading industrial and medical gases companies, now offers gas and equipment specifically for the additive manufacturing industry. Until now, the only major gas company making significant public moves in the additive manufacturing space was Linde. However other major…
Read More -
A new integrated debinding and sintering furnace from Admatec
After enlarging the printing build volume of the Admaflex300, the Netherlands-based ceramics AM hardware manufacturer Admatec has introduced a new integrated debinding and sintering furnace, with an enlarged inner volume, increasing the throughput and efficiency in technical ceramic 3D printing and post-processing. Technical ceramics 3D printing is one of the…
Read More -
OECHSLER, AMT and HP partner to develop PBF production workflow
OECHSLER, a global polymer technology company with HQ in Ansbach/Middle Franconia, is expanding its service portfolio in the field of additive manufacturing and enlarging its capacities for series production using HP powder-based 3D printing process and AMT for post-processing capabilities. For this purpose, OECHSLER is investing a mid-range single-digit million…
Read More -
Russell AMPro Lite powder recovery station used to improve productivity
Chinese metal AM service provider Tianqi Additive turned to the Russell Finex AMPro Lite powder recovery station as an efficient, innovative solution to the company’s previous powder handling problems. The unit was used for powder reclaim from the printer chamber, in conjunction with two other AM processing machines. Having previously…
Read More -
PostProcess launches CONNECT3D AM platform
PostProcess Technologies, the pioneer of automated and intelligent post-printing solutions for industrial 3D printing, today has made known that its CONNECT3D Additive Manufacturing Platform is now available. The CONNECT3D platform is a new addition to the company’s current full-stack solution of hardware, chemistry, and software and complements the current AUTOMAT3D…
Read More -
Non-linear acoustic NDT, a new era for critical AM applications
As additive manufacturing technologies become increasingly sophisticated and more and more viable for the production of end-use parts for critical applications, new questions and challenges inevitably arise. Once AM processes have been validated, AM companies and adoptive industries must reckon with how to ensure the process is scalable and industry-ready.…
Read More -
Conflux launches Conflux Quantify proprietary quality control software
Conflux Quantify, the proprietary quality control software developed by 3D printed heat exchanger specialist Conflux, is tailored to leverage the company’s unique heat exchanger geometries and manufacturing capabilities. Key benefits include improved quality control, lighter/thinner/higher performance HXs due to improved development capabilities and more cost-effective HXs due to the reduced…
Read More