Efficient powder circulation is critical to the mass production of additive manufacturing. To meet different requirements across various scenarios, Bright Laser Technologies has introduced a comprehensive powder circulation system solution. This solution enables highly efficient powder supply, recycling, and sieving.

Metal additive manufacturing equipment requires preparation and refill of powder throughout the printing process. Inadequate powder supply can lead to equipment downtime mid-print, which can negatively impact the building quality of product. Manual powder loading poses challenges for larger machines and is time-consuming, labor-intensive, and inconvenient. Moreover, it presents potential safety risks due to powder exposure to air.

BLT’s Powder Supply System offers the following advantages:

01 Multiple Safety Measures

BLT’s powder supply system is designed in compliance with the “Safety specifications for dedusting system used in dust explosion hazardous area.” The entire powder supply process operates under inert gas protection. During operation, the powder is transported through positive pressure airflow provided by an inert gas source, and the system’s pipes and joints maintain excellent air tightness. This approach minimizes human-powder interaction, enhancing safety for both personnel and powder materials.

The powder supply machine is equipped with oxygen sensors. It only initiates powder feeding after oxygen in the chamber is reduced to an acceptable level. If excessive oxygen levels are detected, the machine automatically shuts down and initiates another purging cycle. Operations resume only when oxygen returns to safe levels. This closed-loop safety control ensures continuous and stable production.

Furthermore, the equipment’s control system can monitor various parameters, including pressure and differential pressure of filter cartridges. It also includes an alarm function for abnormal readings, making the entire powder supply process more secure and reliable.

02 Metered Powder Feeding

The system allows for precise powder quantity control according to different production needs. It excels when real-time adjustments or smaller powder volumes are required. This enables point-to-point powder transportation between the printing equipment and the supply machine.

Metered Powder Feeding

03 One-Click Powder Feeding

The automated powder transportation system is ideal for unmanned operations. It automatically monitors the powder chamber, detects refill needs, and initiates feeding. The system halts when the chamber is full, enhancing the automation experience.

One-Click Powder Feeding

04 Continuous Powder Feeding

During extended production runs, the continuous powder feeding feature automatically detects a powder shortage and refills the chamber. Once full, the system enters standby mode, resuming automatic refill when the powder level reaches the lower threshold.

05 Modular Configuration

The system offers modular configuration for powder spreading equipment, allowing integration with multiple machines simultaneously, both identical and different models, as long as the materials used are the same. This one-to-many solution maximizes efficiency while optimizing space utilization.

06 Equipment Black Box

The powder supply machine interface features status monitoring and alarm management sections. These help operators track operational status and maintain logs. In case of errors, these logs facilitate troubleshooting and optimization, preventing recurrence of issues.