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DUST & FUME EXTRACTION
contamination in the print chamber, results in costly waste and reworking, and potential harm to customer relationships. As a result, reliable emissions extraction has become essential for 3D printing processes in both maintaining productivity and contributing to a safe and healthy workplace.
This reliance on filtration has seen significant innovation among systems providers, such as BOFA. This is particularly so for metal powder processes, where emissions captured under an inert environment can be at risk of an exothermic reaction if filters are not exchanged in a strictly controlled manner.
It is also the case that exchanging filters mid- print would likely result in product defects and significant materials wastage – so filter capacity is also a hot topic. As such, BOFA engineers have been working both to enhance filter capacity and make filter exchange more streamlined. One such example is the AM 400, which is designed specifically for inert-environment particulate filtration. It offers benefits to users in direct metal laser sintering and selective laser melting polymer applications.
The system uses technology to enable the safe onsite exchange of the filters that help
remove potentially harmful particulate from metal additive manufacturing processes by isolating equipment and captured material. Filters are contained within a separate housing with a robust seal, enabling filter exchange to be completed quickly and safely without isolating the additive manufacturing equipment. Its portability also makes it a contributor to production agility and efficiency. The AM 400 also incorporates the Intelligent Operating (iQ) system, providing users with access to real-time filtration system condition visualisation and onboard data logs, as well as smart alarm configuration and system upgrades, enabling the timely exchange of filters in line with production schedules. In this instance, a system log can be downloaded and shared with engineers, who can assess any root cause of premature filter blockage.
Of course, the principal role for BOFA systems is to filter the nanoparticles that are emitted as a result of 3D printing, the concentration of which both increase as temperature rises. Now BOFA engineers aim to go further with technical developments aimed at completely transforming filter exchange to bring to life the vision of 24/7 AM operations. .
BOFA International
www.bofainternational.com
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