3D Printing Post-Processing - Powder Removal and Cleaning

Rapid 3D - DyeMansion Powershot C. Automated 3D part powder cleaning for SLS parts

Automated Part Cleaning Increases Productivity and Reduces Post-Processing Costs

As 3D printing gains increasing adoption in manufacturing and serial production, the post-processing necessary is becoming an important consideration.

Manufacturers, in addition to ensuring high product quality, have to pay attention to reducing costs for series production. Powder-bed processes, such as Multi Jet Fusion (MJF), Selective Laser Sintering (SLS), and High-Speed Sintering (HSS), are technologies that offer consistent and predictable results in serial production – but with appreciable post-production costs.

Post-processing is a cost driver but therein lies potential. Manual part cleaning is time-consuming and costly, with the high risk of part damage. This is where automated part cleaning shows great cost-saving potential.

Rapid 3D - Manual Part Cleaning 10 Minutes — Manual Part Cleaning 10 Minutes

Rapid 3D - Automated Part Cleaning 10 minutes — Manual Part Cleaning 10 Minutes

Labour Time Comparison between Manual cleaning systems and the automated DYEMANSION PowerShot C.Manual Cleaning System at 100 parts per run takes a total of 54 minutes.DYEMANSION PowerShot C at 100 parts per run takes a total of 4 minutes.Automated part cleaning in the DYEMANSION PowerShot C is 10x more efficient.

Increase Your Productivity

Using the DyeMansion Powershot C, up to 75% of an EOS P396 job can be cleaned in only ten minutes. The time needed for cleaning and personnel costs can be reduced in a significant way and therefore efficiency improved.

A configurable timer allows a constant batch processing and parts can be processed much faster.

Gentle Surface Treatment

Compared to manual blasting cabins, the DyeMansion Powershot C is equipped with a rotating basket and is manufactured from stainless steel.

Two simultaneous blasting nozzles, that are positioned perpendicular to the rotating basket and the contained parts, remove the powder in an efficient way. The fixed distance between the parts and the blasting nozzles ensures reproducible results without damaging the parts during the process.

Save Production Space

By investing in automated part cleaning with the DyeMansion Powershot C, up to four manual blasting systems can be replaced.

In addition to the resultant operating cost savings, production space savings are achieved by replacing up to four manual blasting cabins with a single automated and compact cleaning unit.

Automated Cleaning of Complex Geometries

Drag the slider to reveal the cleaned Jar.

Manual Part Cleaning Can Damage Parts

Manual cleaning, by nature results in non-uniform pressure distribution. As a result, parts can be damaged. Damaged parts have to be re-produced, which means additional time and costs.

Pressure Marks

Pressure marks occur, for example, when the operator covers points by holding the parts. This results in uneven cleaning.

Pressure marks are often only visible after dyeing.

Powder Residues

Powder residues are common with manually cleaned parts that have complex geometries and uneven pocket depths.

Powder residues will result in inconsistent colouring.

Burn Marks

Burn marks on parts are caused by the pressure cleaning nozzle being brought too close to the part surfaces, held in a single area for too long or the pressure being set too high.

Affected parts cannot be consistently coloured.