Avia Tools' Depowdering Systems for Metal 3D Printed Parts
Aviation manufacturer only landed in the additive manufacturing segment out of necessity in order to address a client’s depowdering issue. Now it has developed a range of system sizes for any 3D printed part up to 1 metric ton and 1.5 m tall.
Share
Read Next
Avia Tools’ DP500 depowdering system. Photo Credit: Avia Tools
Avia Tools has developed a line of ready-to-use machine depowdering systems for additive manufacturing (AM). Its flagship portfolio is made up of DP machines 400, 500, 600, 1000 and 1500, with DP standing for depowdering.
The company says the line was quickly developed due to its expertise in machine manufacturing and CNC. It only landed in the AM segment out of necessity in order to address a client’s depowdering issue. Now it has developed a range of sizes tailored for any 3D printed part up to 1 metric ton and 1.5 m tall.
The system is designed to efficiently conduct the depowdering process by means of extracting unsintered powder from 3D printed parts using an optional atmospherically controlled cabin. It also has motorized and implemented CNC capabilities in the entire range of machines.
Avia Tools designed its CNC system in-house with ease-of-use in mind. It is said anyone can learn to program a machine in 5 minutes using the manual. It also has software using AI to determine the correct position of each axis which generates the program for the machine.
The systems are well suited for depowdering metal 3D printed parts, particularly for complex parts such as end nozzles on rockets. Each machine features percussive-based manipulation of the build plate to dislodge powder from newly printed parts. They also offer 360 degrees of rotation on both axes, enabling the removal of powder buildup in hard-to-reach areas.
Each system provides inert gas capabilities which are needed to process reactive metal powders; programmability to enable repeatable cleaning cycles; and simplified loading of heavier/larger parts via roof access.
- Learn more about depowdering and its role in the additive manufacturing workflow in our New to AM? microsite.
Related Content
-
New Zeda Additive Manufacturing Factory in Ohio Will Serve Medical, Military and Aerospace Production
Site providing laser powder bed fusion as well as machining and other postprocessing will open in late 2023, and will employ over 100. Chief technology officer Greg Morris sees economic and personnel advantages of serving different markets from a single AM facility.
-
Additive Manufacturing in Space: Failing Upward
Not all 3D printed parts destined for space need to adhere to the standards of human space flight. Yet all parts made for space programs require some type of qualification and certification. NASA and The Barnes Global Advisors explore Q&C for these parts.
-
At General Atomics, Do Unmanned Aerial Systems Reveal the Future of Aircraft Manufacturing?
The maker of the Predator and SkyGuardian remote aircraft can implement additive manufacturing more rapidly and widely than the makers of other types of planes. The role of 3D printing in current and future UAS components hints at how far AM can go to save cost and time in aircraft production and design.
