The impressively complex and organically shaped metal components you’ve seen on display from metal 3D printer makers don’t come out of the machine looking that way. Typically, they’re covered with supports that require hours of post-processing and machining to remove.
Yes, additive manufacturing is fundamentally reinventing industrial manufacturing, particularly in sectors such as aerospace, automotive, and medical technology. However, removing support structures is still a traditional process that has yet to undergo reinvention. Conventional methods, such as using a hammer and chisel, are not just time-consuming and physically demanding but also increase the risk of damaging the component.
German machine maker Toolcraft is one of the first to really address metal AM part posting processing. The company’s new SupportBlaster 320-HA is a dry ice blasting system that semi-automates the process.
Toolcraft says its method not only reduces bottlenecks and quality problems while increasing overall productivity, but depending on the specific requirements, it can reduce the machining time per component by up to 80% – and sometimes even more, depending on the component.
An additional bonus is that the method “improves working conditions by minimizing physically strenuous work,” the company says.
“Companies that continue to rely on traditional, manual processes are going to find themselves under pressure in the future,” says Christoph Hauck, chief technology and sales officer at Toolcraft. “The market is increasingly demanding automated solutions.”
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