Automatization of de-powdering process for binder jetting technology

Abstract: Additive manufacturing has gained considerable attention in recent years due to its capabilities of producing complex parts with tailormade mechanical properties. Because of its infancy state, additive manufacturing production chains are seldom optimized to the same extent as conventional manufacturing techniques. Companies with additive manufacturing production sitesusing powder as a building material often find themselves devoting a lot of resources towards depowdering, a post processing step that has potential of being a significant bottleneck.The purpose of this master thesis was to develop a de-powdering system that would function automatically, relieving operators from performing the process step manually. The following work has been conducted at Sandvik in Sandviken at the department for additive manufacturing.Results were acquired with high credibility due to a mixture of qualitative and quantitative gathering techniques that supplemented each other. Together with a literature review, empirical data gave rise to the possibility of developing a new de-powdering system for binder jetting technology.Optimization of the system indicated that larger inlets produced a higher removal efficiency. This was later confirmed with computational fluid dynamics, where smaller nozzles created a more turbulent air flow, making it difficult for powder particles to exit the system. Though final trials with green bodies revealed that the system, in its current state, did not have the capabilities of replacing manual de-powdering completely, it certainly displayed how efficient it can be with further development.