Solukon expands compatibility with the newly patented SFP770 cleaning and unpacking station

Solukon SFP770 post processing systems for plastic parts can now be used to accommodate build boxes. EOS Systems for manufacturing SLS products in P 1 or P 5 series. 

Solukon says this will enable them to tap new markets in the polymer post processing area.

Andreas Hartmann, CEO and CTO of Solukon, said: “We’ve received several requests for a post-processing system, especially for the EOS P 500. Since the EOS P 500 is a standard plastic printer, our SFP770 post processing system paired with the correct adapter is now available to a much larger user base.”

The SFP770’s construction begins with the box being lifted onto the system by a lift truck. A vibrating sieve covering is then placed on top of the box. The box then spins gently overhead in accordance with an optional programmable process to separate the powder and components.

The powder is taken directly from the sieve cover and sent to a recycling unit. After the unpacking is completed, the build box turns towards the basket and opens its sieve cover. The cover can now be used as a slide to allow the parts to slide into the basket.

Once the components have been transferred to the basket, a new box can be loaded into your system. The first batch of components will be cleaned in the second part of the system. The cleaning process involves the basket rotating towards the blasting unit. There, the automated process of glass bead blasting with ionised oxygen to remove residual powder takes place.

Solukon introduced SFP770 late 2020. It is a post-processing system for plastic parts produced by an EOS P7 series printer. 

The company says it was approached by an automotive industry customer with a request to be able to both unpack and clean polymer components automatically, without the user coming into contact with the plastic powder. The SFP770 was born.

Hartmann added: “We expect plastics manufacturing to trend strongly towards a focus on post-processing, because it constitutes the decisive step in determining if something is truly manufactured in series or not. It is possible to optimize a manufacturing process for serial production, but if the post-processing does not meet the same high standards, it will not be true serial production. 

“At Solukon, we therefore expect to see an increased demand for automated unpacking and cleaning stations. We are ready to automate loading and unloading. We are currently in discussions with international manufacturers and suppliers of system components. We are proud to be able to participate in the future of additive manufacturing in this area.”

In October 2022, Solukon launched the SPR-Pathfinder software for intelligent depowdering.

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