The Hi-Sifter Metal Powder Recycling System is the latest development in the rapidly growing additive manufacturing market. It is the first powder reclaiming system that can screen at 44 micron and finer (from as low as 7 micron to what is needed at 44 micron).
In order to recycle AM Powders after printing, companies must run them through a screener to remove overs, or partially sintered particles, that form in the process. These “Splatter particles” can affect the layering inside the 3D printer and need to be removed before the powder can be reused. Typically, companies need to recycle AM powders at a size range of either 107 or 44 microns. Traditional screeners struggle to maintain rates and efficiencies at these sizes which has led to the use of 53, 63 and even 74 micron cuts in order to achieve a separation. On top of “cheating the hole”, the rates achieved by these standard screeners are not able to keep up with the powder coming out of the vacuum, which causes processing delays. Anytime the 3D printer is not running, money is being lost. Elcan Industries has developed a solution to all of these pressing issues.
The Hi-Sifter Powder Reclaiming System is designed specifically for the additive manufacturing, aerospace, and biomedical markets. It has a completely polished stainless steel body and does not require the use of balls or sliders to make efficient separations. The sifting system a high energy approach that is designed specifically for dense metal powder separation. These dense particles jump on the screen allowing the fine particles to easily pass through the screening mesh. The ability to make efficient separations eliminates the need to “cheat the hole”. Elcan believes that 44 micron powder should be sieved at 44 microns, not 63 microns as other companies promote.
The high energy approach quickly reduces the time it takes to recycle additive manufacturing powders. The system makes reclaiming powders out of the printer an easy task. Equipped with an explosion proof vacuum system, the Hi-Sifter Powder Reclaiming System quickly cleans powders out of the printer and feeds it through the screener. Everything can be done in an inert atmosphere, which is imperative when running explosive powders. The higher rates and efficiencies achieved by this system makes quicker turnarounds and means that you have a cleaner end product as well
