PRODUCTS & PROCESSES
New media mix from AM Solutions allows more efficient and costeffective surface finishing of 3D printed plastic components and can be used for a wide spectrum of work pieces and applications
With its latest development of a new media type for post processing of thermoplastic components , printed with the MJF and SLS technology , AM Solutions – 3D post processing technology is further expanding its product portfolio . The new media permits the safe , cost-efficient finishing of 3D printed components with different shapes and sizes in one single process step and with absolutely repeatable results . This eliminates the time-consuming and costly media changes for different processing stages . In combination with the respective printing knowhow the new media mix generates a perfect , finely structured and highly homogeneous surface finish .
With the growing utilization of additive manufacturing for volume production of plastic components , the requirements for cost-efficiency and high-quality surface finishes are becoming more demanding . With a team of experts in the field of automated post processing , the Rösler brand AM Solutions – 3D post processing technology is meeting this challenge head-on . The latest development is a media that generates absolutely repeatable , high-quality finishing results on thermoplastic components , which are printed with the powder-bed-based printing technologies MJF and SLS . For this novel product the AM Solutions experts took advantage of the comprehensive development know-how of the Rösler Oberflächentechnik GmbH . With more than 15,000 products , Rösler offers by far the largest portfolio of media and compounds in the world .
The new media mix from AM Solutions – 3D post processing technology allows the cost-efficient finishing of a wide variety of 3D printed plastic components ( MJF / SLS ) in one single processing step . Irrespective of the size and shape of the work pieces , the process is absolutely stable and produces consistently repeatable finishing results . Time-consuming and costly media changes because of multi-stage processes are no longer necessary . This also helps to eliminate the stocking requirements for different media types . The grinding performance depends on the geometrical complexity of the work pieces . For certain applications the surface roughness can be reduced from Ra = 15 μm to Ra = 3 μm within 240 minutes .
High versatility makes finishing processes simpler , safer and more cost-effective
The material , shape and size of the new media has been perfectly adapted to the post processing requirements of 3D printed plastic components . Christoph Bätz , Project Engineer at AM Solutions – 3D post processing technology explains : „ The composition of the new media mix was developed through numerous processing trials . The result is a product that allows the surface finishing of a broad spectrum of components with different shapes and sizes . Irrespective of whether small , delicate work pieces or large components must be treated , the result is always a highly homogeneous , consistent and repeatable finish .” The grinding performance depends on the geometrical complexity of the work pieces .
“ The composition of the new media mix was developed through numerous processing trials . The result is a product that allows the surface finishing of a broad spectrum of components with different shapes and sizes . Irrespective of whether small , delicate work pieces or large components must be treated , the result is always a highly homogeneous , consistent and repeatable finish ”, explains Christoph Bätz , Project Engineer at AM Solutions – 3D post processing technology .
70 SEPTEMBER 2021 twitter : @ surfaceworldmag