Metal powder

The automatic feeding of 3D printers for the additive manufacturing of metal parts requires a high level of experience in handling critical raw materials.

The requirements are varied:

• Uninterrupted supply of metal powder to one or more 3D printers
• Storage, handling, packaging, transportation, and processing of a wide variety of powders
• Seven of the newly introduced metal powders currently in circulation
• Cost-effectiveness and the conservation of resources through the reuse of unmelted metal powder
• Operator Protection Against Respirable and Toxic Metal Powders
• Explosion Protection for Explosive Metal Powders
• Product Protection for Hygroscopic and Oxygen-Reactive Metal Powders

The more complex the raw material, the more we’re in our element

Glovebox

When the system is empty and the printer needs to be reloaded, the containers of metal powder are first placed into the glovebox through the loading door, and the glovebox is flooded with inert gas. Using gloves, the plastic bottles or canisters can be safely emptied into the downstream storage tank.
In the next step, the powder is pneumatically transported to one or more sieving modules, which are directly integrated into the 3D printer. Unused powder is returned either directly during the layering process or after the print job is complete, out of the printer chamber. If the powder is not to remain in the cycle, it can be discharged under an inert gas atmosphere.

Screening module

The powder fed through the glovebox is pneumatically conveyed to the screening module, where it is processed by an ultrasonic screen. The high-frequency ultrasonic vibration ensures efficient and gentle screening of the powder. The fine material falls through the screen into the fine material outlet, from where it is pneumatically conveyed to the pressure module. The coarse material is transported over the screen surface and thus enters the coarse material outlet, where it is removed from the process. Thanks to the vibrations, the screen surface cleans itself even during operation, which extends cleaning intervals and, at the same time, reduces machine setup times.

Printer Module

The metal powder, which is pneumatically conveyed to the printer module, is separated from the carrier gas in the separator and can be fed to up to two machine inlets via a distribution screw. A flap valve isolates the conveying system from the printer chamber at atmospheric pressure to prevent pressure fluctuations in the printer chamber. Depending on the printer design, the scraped-off powder is collected in a hopper for return transport to the powder supply module.