SLS/MJF ADDITIVE MANUFACTURING POST-TREATMENT BLASTING BOOTH
Parts printed by SLS (selective laser sintering) or MJF (multijet fusion) 3D printers usually come out impregnated with residues and polymer powder.
Removing the powder and making the parts clean is a painstaking and time-consuming job if the operator doesn't have the right tool. In fact, it is necessary to remove the powder from these 3D printed parts by brushing or stirring them in trays. Another much more effective technique is sandblasting, or microbead blasting, using a sandblasting machine or a hand-held booth. This dry impact surface treatment involves projecting abrasives, such as glass microbeads, ceramic microbeads or plastic media, to remove clogged polymer powders from the parts. These spherical or soft abrasives do not damage the parts. It is important not to set the blasting pressure too high. A pressure of 4 bar is recommended for glass microbeads. If the glass bead breaks, it becomes angular glass which will mark the parts.
To carry out such operations, you need an excellent air/abrasive/dust extraction system, sometimes external to the blasting machines. It is also necessary to have a good compressor, preferably with a screw, as the sandblasting machine will require a large quantity of compressed air.
Our range includes a machine that meets the needs of companies using additive manufacturing (3D printing). In particular, the need for productivity and repeatability. Below is the complete process of de-soldering by bead blasting, sand blasting and blowing parts printed using SLS or MJF technologies.
Our 3DX-PERT machine responds to the problems in additive manufacturing by powder sintering (SLS / MJF)
With several nozzles and ionized air blow guns, this machine allows a sandblasting and blowing treatment in a rotating basket that is fully configurable and automated thanks to timer systems. It is then possible to carry out a continuous sandblasting and blowing cycle, without user intervention.
Advantages of sandblasting/bead blasting for the finishing of parts:
- Improves part finish by reducing surface roughness
- Creates a homogeneous appearance on parts
- Also removes powder residue
Advantages of a blowing cycle for depowdering parts:
- Allows the powder to be separated from the cake at the printer outlet
- The powder is collected in plastic bags
All our machines are:
- CE certified equipment
- Designed and manufactured in France in our workshop in the North of France