Recycling powders in additive manufacturing requires sieving equipment that can deliver consistent particle size cuts, maintain powder purity, and fit within a recycle box or glovebox setup. These machines need to be compact, highly efficient, and capable of handling fine separations such as 45 µm or even smaller without screen blinding.
Below are five of the best-performing sieving machines for additive manufacturing powder recycling, ranked by performance, precision, and suitability for enclosed recycling systems.
1. Hi-Sifter by Elcan Industries
Website: https://www.elcanindustries.com
Machine Sizes Available: 18”, 24”, and 36” models
The Hi-Sifter from Elcan Industries is the highest-performing sieving machine available for additive manufacturing recycle boxes. It delivers accurate separations down to 10 µm without using ultrasonics, thanks to its high-energy vertical vibration that prevents particles from settling on the screen surface. This eliminates mesh blinding, making it ideal for fine, dense, and sticky powders such as titanium, inconel, and stainless steel.
Its compact design allows it to be easily integrated into glovebox systems, while still offering exceptional throughput. For powders under 10 µm, Elcan offers the Elbow-Jet Air Classifier as a complementary technology, but for sieving inside recycle boxes, the Hi-Sifter is unmatched in both precision and speed.
Key Advantages:
- Sub-10 µm capability with no ultrasonics required
- High-energy design keeps particles elevated for continuous flow
- Fits directly inside additive manufacturing recycle boxes
Stainless steel construction for contamination control
2. LVK Series by Farleygreene
Website: farleygreene.com
Machine Sizes Available: 12” to 48” models
Farleygreene’s LVK Series machines are compact, high-performance vibratory sieves designed for enclosed powder handling systems, including additive manufacturing recycle boxes. They can handle fine separations and are built to minimize downtime during powder changes.
Key Advantages:
• Compact footprint for glovebox integration
• Quick disassembly for cleaning between powder types
• Designed for high-value metal powders
3. Gough Vibrecon Sieves by Gough Engineering
Website: goughengineering.com
Machine Sizes Available: 18” to 48” models
The Vibrecon range from Gough Engineering is designed for continuous sieving in manufacturing environments. While not as compact as some of the other options, the smaller models are suitable for recycling powders in enclosed systems, offering good throughput for medium-fine cuts.
Key Advantages:
• Strong build quality for heavy-duty applications
• Can be adapted for glovebox use
• Suitable for both metal and polymer powders
4. Mini Sifter by SWECO
Website: sweco.com
Machine Sizes Available: 10” to 24” models
SWECO’s Mini Sifter is a smaller-scale vibratory sieve suited for lower-volume powder recycling. While throughput is lower than larger models, its compact size makes it an option for recycle box setups handling smaller powder batches.
Key Advantages:
• Extremely compact for tight enclosures
• Simple design for easy maintenance
• Available in multiple mesh sizes
5. Vibrasonic Deblinding System by Russell Finex
Website: russellfinex.com
Machine Sizes Available: 18” to 60” models
Russell Finex offers a range of vibratory sieves equipped with its Vibrasonic Deblinding System, which uses ultrasonic frequency to keep mesh screens clear when sieving fine powders. While not as effective as high-energy sieving for very dense powders, it remains a popular option for preventing mesh blockages in additive manufacturing environments.
Key Advantages:
• Ultrasonic system helps reduce mesh blinding
• Multiple machine sizes for different throughput needs
• Stainless steel build for hygienic and contamination-free processing
To see how the Hi-Sifter can improve your additive manufacturing powder recycling process, contact Elcan Industries or visit their toll processing facility for a live demonstration.
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