Volkmann vHub 250 Metal Powder Storage System Automates Buffering, Intermediate Storage

Volkmann’s vHub 250 metal powder storage system is versatile powder storage buffer for both preprocessing and postprocessing. It features an inline holding container that can be installed upstream of a 3D printer as a reliable powder supply, as well as downstream of a 3D printer to collect and hold excess metal powder from a build box after printing. The collected metal powder can be sieved and stored, or returned to the printer for reprocessing.

Serving from one up to six different 3D printers at the same time, the vHub 250 includes a 250-L (~8.8 ft.³) stainless steel hopper and touchscreen controls with integrated Volkmann pneumatic vacuum conveyor for safe, smooth, dust-free powder transfer. The vHub is ATEX-certified as explosion-proof. It disassembles without tools for fast, easy cleaning and stands on a compact footprint of less than 1 m² (11.1 ft.²).

Operating as a stand-alone unit or within a closed loop system, the vHub is suitable for tungsten, cobalt, silver powder, iron, stainless steel, alumina, nickel chrome, copper, titanium and other metallic powders in both normal air environments and under inert conditions as an option.

The vHub marks the company's latest in a slate of equipment introductions for automating metal powder handling, transfer and reprocessing in metal 3D printing.