Powder processing without gas wasting for additive manufacturing
assonic presents a closed loop system for reactive metal powders for the first time at Formnext 2024
Up to now, the preparation and further processing of reactive powders for modern additive manufacturing applications, such as titanium, has consumed a large amount of inert gas, which was emitted into the atmosphere after the process. In cooperation with a well-known East German university, German company assonic Dorstener Siebtechnik has now solved this problem and is going to present the first metal powder screening system with a closed gas circuit at the Formnext trade fair in Frankfurt am Main. For the first time, the SPC 500 system not only conveys the powder, but also the respective inert gas by means of a vacuum in the circuit.
This closed circuit not only reduces the sometimes enormous costs for inert gases such as argon or nitrogen to a minimum during the pre- and post-processing of reactive materials, but for the first time the sensitive preparation process can also be fully automated and carried out without manual intervention. In this way, the aluminum version of the system achieves a product throughput of approx. 200 kg/h, while the stainless steel version even achieves approx. 400 kg/h.
“With the development of the new SPC 500, assonic has mastered the challenge of automated powder preparation for reactive powders. This means that problem-free, efficient powder handling is now also possible with reactive materials such as titanium − without exploding costs due to high gas consumption and without constant checks by personnel,” explained Paul Tüshaus, Managing Director of the Dorstener Drahtwerke Group, to which the company assonic belongs.
The SPC can be supplied in various configuration levels. A closed automated powder circuit is clean and safe even without the inert option and can save a lot of energy costs if the vacuum generation is selected appropriately. Intermediate powder storage tanks can be connected, and an automated powder conveyor can be integrated between the laser printer and the powder preparation unit (see Fig.). Powder removal systems can also be connected.
At Formnext 2024, assonic will be presenting the new possibilities and demonstrating a closed powder circuit.
