3D Automatic Unpacking System Enables Continuous Workflow

HP and AM Solutions have jointly developed the HP Jet Fusion 5200 Series 3D Automatic Unpacking Station. The machine is a scalable, industrial postprocessing solution that enables the fully automatic and consistent unpacking of AM parts made on the HP Jet Fusion 5200 3D Printing System in a continuous workflow, the company says. The machine is said to improve productivity increase and cost efficiency, as well as provide a higher powder reclaim rate for certain geometries. AM Solutions (a Rösler subsidiary) will manufacture the Automatic Unpacking Station at its 3D postprocessing technology location in Germany.

The machine combines the printing and postprocessing operations into one automated, scalable process. The automatic unpacking process takes place immediately after the cooling of the build job in the HP Natural Cooling Unit. A lifting device is used to transfer the cooling unit to the Automatic Unpacking Station. There it is positioned and unlocked, and the entire build job is placed in the station.

All relevant printing job data is transmitted to the unpacking station by means of its RFID reader. This is said to ensure that the job- and process-related data can be tracked, and the process monitored remotely by means of HP’s 3D Center software. The automated unpacking process — adapted to the individual workpieces — enables a considerably higher powder reclaim rate for certain geometries. An air suction system transfers the powder collected in the station continuously to a dedicated external tank. The printed parts are discharged into an unloading box. Once the external tank is full, it is replaced with an empty one, and the retrieved powder can be loaded back into an HP Build Unit after connecting the full tank to the processing station.

HP and AM Solutions have jointly developed the HP Jet Fusion 5200 Series 3D Automatic Unpacking Station. The machine is a scalable, industrial postprocessing solution that enables the fully automatic and consistent unpacking of AM parts made on the HP Jet Fusion 5200 3D Printing System in a continuous workflow, the company says. The machine is said to improve productivity increase and cost efficiency, as well as provide a higher powder reclaim rate for certain geometries. AM Solutions (a Rösler subsidiary) will manufacture the Automatic Unpacking Station at its 3D postprocessing technology location in Germany.

The machine combines the printing and postprocessing operations into one automated, scalable process. The automatic unpacking process takes place immediately after the cooling of the build job in the HP Natural Cooling Unit. A lifting device is used to transfer the cooling unit to the Automatic Unpacking Station. There it is positioned and unlocked, and the entire build job is placed in the station.

All relevant printing job data is transmitted to the unpacking station by means of its RFID reader. This is said to ensure that the job- and process-related data can be tracked, and the process monitored remotely by means of HP’s 3D Center software. The automated unpacking process — adapted to the individual workpieces —  enables a considerably higher powder reclaim rate for certain geometries. An air suction system transfers the powder collected in the station continuously to a dedicated external tank. The printed parts are discharged into an unloading box. Once the external tank is full, it is replaced with an empty one, and the retrieved powder can be loaded back into an HP Build Unit after connecting the full tank to the processing station.