Introduction
The Desktop Metal Shop uses 17-4 PH powder to create stainless steel parts using a binder jetting technology. This guide will explain how this powder is used by the printer and the recycling workflow.
This guide is not a detailed explanation of how to complete each step but rather an overview of the process. This guide can be referenced by an experienced technician as a reminder to not skip over any steps once they know how to perform all the steps individually.
Images by: Terrapin Works
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There are two sources for powder: Virgin and Recycled
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Virgin powder is the fresh powder from Desktop Metal that hasn't been used in any process yet
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A small amount of virgin powder will be used for each print
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Recycled powder can come from multiple places but it is powder which has been used in some form of the printing process
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Powder starts as a mixture of both Virgin and Recycled powder
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The mixture is loaded into the powder reservoir in the printer just before starting a print
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Once the build box has been removed from the printer all the excess powder will be transferred into the store keg below the printer
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Once all powder is transferred from the print bed, powder reservoir and collection tracks, the store keg can be removed from the printer
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The printer fines jar should then be removed and poured into the store keg
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The store keg is then put in the drying oven alongside the build box to go through the drying cycle
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The excavation process (described in a seperate guide) involves transferring all loose powder from the store keg and build box to a blend keg underneath the powder station
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Once the dosing cycle is completed or the load cell reaches 25kg the blend keg should be removed from the powder station and capped
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The last keg to come out of the powder station should have the fines jar from the side of the powder station combined with the blend keg
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The fines jar under the powder station can be removed and sent back through the dosing cycle once by using the hand sieve to filter out the big chunks which can be thrown out into the pink ESD bags
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Once the content of the fines jar has been cycled through once it can be disposed of in the pink ESD bags
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Place the blend keg from the powder station on the scale
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Subtract 4 kg from the weight and divide by 9 to get the virgin powder weight
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Add the virgin powder to the blend keg, using the scale to verify the final weight
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Be sure to have your partner hold the vacuum near the opening to limit the spread of the aerosolized powder
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Cap the blend keg and mark how many kg the final weight was using masking tape and a marker
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Lift the mixed blend keg into the blender
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Push the button
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Once the machine is finished the powder is ready to be added to the printer and start the cycle over again
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Remove the blend keg and mark on the masking tape that it's ready to be added to the printer
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Be sure to reference the appropriate separate guides for more detailed steps for any part of the process. This guide serves to inform already trained operators about the parts of the process to remind them and check their work.
Be sure to reference the appropriate separate guides for more detailed steps for any part of the process. This guide serves to inform already trained operators about the parts of the process to remind them and check their work.
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