Abstract
This disclosure relates to the process of recovering the non-solidified powder in additive manufacturing
systems using binder jetting and powder bed fusion technologies. Typically, the powder recovery from
the build platforms is a manual operation that consists of aspirating the powder particles through a
nozzle. The powder is transported to a tank using a vacuum system.
With the current set of nozzles, aspirating the powder is slow and labor-intensive. The material
transport pipes are often clogged, and the nozzles are stuck against the build platforms surfaces. The
processing time is highly variable and dependent on the operator's ability, which is not acceptable in a
mass production environment.
A new set of nozzles has been engineered to solve these problems. The idea consists of adding
additional air entrances to the vacuum nozzles, apart from the main inlet where the powder is suctioned.
This concept helps improve the performance, repeatability, and user experience of the powder retrieval
process.
Creative Commons License
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Recommended Citation
INC, HP, "VACUUM NOZZLE FOR METAL POWDER RETRIEVAL", Technical Disclosure Commons, (March 02, 2021)
https://www.tdcommons.org/dpubs_series/4117