Additive manufacturing developer DESKTOP METAL launched a high-purity vacuum furnace system – PureSinter™ – for high-purity, one-run debinding and sintering of powder metal parts. The system is compatible with a range of powder met processes, including Bound Metal Deposition® (BMD) and binder jet printing, metal injection molding (MIM), or press and sinter (PM) manufacturing.
Standard sintering furnaces are easily contaminated by hydrocarbons and other waste emitted by powdered metal parts. Built-up contamination on walls and other surfaces causes undesirable chemical reactions and furnace reliability complications.
“Rather than trying to simply mitigate the factors that lead to poor performance in an all-in-one debinding and sintering furnace, we have eliminated them with an innovative all-new design,” stated Desktop Metal CEO Ric Fulop. “This is the first product from Desktop Metal aimed at manufacturers using both Additive Manufacturing and traditional manufacturing methods.
In development for more than five years, PureSinter is patent-pending design involving hot walls that prevent contamination build-up and an airtight processing environment to promote efficient waste exit and high levels of purity.
Extensive testing shows little to no contamination or build-up inside the furnace, even after hundreds of runs. Consequently, PureSinter delivers high-quality sintered parts, on par or better than premium furnaces with higher acquisition, energy utilization, and operating costs. “Even titanium can be easily sintered with a high degree of confidence without the complex preparations required with other furnaces. PureSinter is Ti-Tested™ with excellent results,” the developer noted.
The PureSinter furnace is compatible with all of DM’s metal printer platforms and binders, and the system is currently validated with 14 metal powder and DM binder combinations, including stainless steels, tool steels, superalloys, and reactive metals. Additional material validations are in process.
PureSinter can reach a maximum temperature of 1,420°C and is qualified for use with a variety of processing gases, including argon, nitrogen, forming gas, and air. The system also features a total of 17 fans and a pop-out ceiling vent for active, rapid, and consistent cooling as well as fast turnaround times. Importantly, PureSinter does not require cold walls with expensive water-cooling features. As experienced furnace users know, cold walls are collection points for debinding residue and contaminants.
With an oxygen-tight retort seal, and an efficient cooling system, the PureSinter energy requirements offer a dramatic improvement over other state-of-the-art furnaces that it competes with on performance. The electrical requirements are 200-220V, 40A; 380-415V, 20A, 3ph, 50/60hZ. With a maximum power draw of 15.2 kW, PureSinter has a holding steady state power draw of approximately 7 kW at 1420°C.
The vertical furnace design offers an efficient footprint, an automated thermal hood lift, touchscreen controls, and unparalleled visibility inside the retort.
Learn more at TeamDM.com/PureSinter.