Equipment to complement the printer
To ensure as efficient and safe production as possible, Digital Metal offers a range of optional ancillary equipment, in compliance with relevant regulations.
Downdraft Table
The downdraft table is used for preparing powder for the printer. Designed to ensure safe handling of loose powder during the powder preparation phase, the downdraft table is built for maximum safety, with a backup filter and alarm connected to sensors that monitor functionality. The table is made of durable stainless steel for easy maintenance and cleaning.
Manual Depowdering Station
A depowdering station is needed to safely remove and collect all loose powder from printed components and enable reuse of the powder in future print jobs. As a good working environment is essential, we have developed a manual depowdering station with safety in mind. It is ergonomically designed to reduce fatigue, whether the operator prefers standing up or sitting down. The station can be automatically raised or lowered according to the particular operator’s needs.
PPS 1000, Powder Preparation Station
The PPS 1000 is a closed, fully automised powder handling system for efficiency and ease of operation with interchangeable, heated powder containers that connect to a manual or semi-automatic depowdering station and the printer. The PPS 1000 automatically dispenses new powder, mixes it with powder collected from the depowdering station, and sieves it at a capacity of 120 kg/h. After sieving, the powder is homogenised and heated before the powder container is connected to the printer for the next print job.
DPS 1000, Semi-Automatic Depowdering Station
For high volume production, the DPS 1000 frees up valuable time. It is a semi-automatic depowdering station that safely removes and collects all loose powder from the printed components for reuse in future print jobs. The layout of the print box, with the powder embedded components, is opened in a CAD program to create CAM-curves and uploaded to the DPS 1000. An automated cleaner nozzle then removes the loose powder with compressed air. If necessary, a secondary step can be performed for components with more challenging geometries, such as channels and hard to access areas. In this case, the components are manually rearranged and put back in the depowdering station for additional processing.