Home  Guide to the utilization
|
|
|
Guide to the utilization of WINDFORM™
Compound materials for Selective Laser Sintering
With the following we will briefly and schematically illustrate the principle concepts for the correct use of the materials from the WINDFORM ® family. In case this guide is not sufficiently exhaustive, we invite you to contact us.
Attention!!
For all information regarding workplace safety and waste disposal, it is compulsory to observe the Safety sheets.
Furthermore the “Safety pack”, is available to be purchased, collecting all best safety devices for WINDFORM ® materials.
Shipping of materials
WINDFORM ® is sold ex-works CRP Technology-Modena, and therefore the shipping should be organised by the purchasing client. CRP, does, however, offer a service which organises pick up from the warehouse once the destination address has been specified. The shipping, the Customs broker and duties, both leaving Italy and entering the destination country, shipment risks and the costs, remain the responsibility of the addressee.
Receiving and storage of materials
WINDFORM ® is packed in metal bins:
- Net weight 20 kg, ø 40 cm & h 50 cm, gross weight 23,5 kg cad.
- These containers can be stacked to save storage space
1 Europallet: 80 X 120 cm, 12 bins.
Every metal bin contains:
- 1 plastic sack containing the material, closed with a plastic band
- 1 small sack of Silica Gel, between the plastic sack and the metal bin, to absorb humidity inside the bin.
- 20 kg of WINDFORM®, inside the sack, closed with a plastic band
The metal bins are resealable.
Maintenance
It is advised to keep the full bins in a dry, cool place, away from the sun (temperature between 15-25°C). The sack of Silica Gel is situated between the plastic sack, which contains the material, and the metal bin, and should never come in to contact with the material.
________________________________________
BESIDES THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION, DIRECTLY FROM THE CRP R&D LAB, THE “WINDFORM ACCESSORIES LINE” (WAL) IS AVAILABLE, IN ORDER TO EXPOLIT AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE THE SUPERIOR WINDFORMTM PARTS PERFORMANCE
Preparation of the loaded machine
Before loading the sintering machine, the powder contained in the metal bins must be agitated (possibly in the mixer for approx. 10 min.) and sifted with the appropriate sieve mesh, as listed below:
- WINDFORM® GF: 0.245 mm of light between the sieves.
- WINDFORM® PRO e PRO-B: 0.515 mm of light between the sieves.
- WINDFORM® XT: 1.015 mm of light between the sieves.
A first, but not only device, could be rolling the metal bin, containing the powder to load in to the machine, on its side.
Attention!!
In this phase a huge quantity of powder is dispersed in to the air and therefore it is important to pay particular attention the the volatile powder, and wear the appropriate protection as indicated on the safety sheet. One must also pay attention to the powder deposited on the ground which could create an extremely slippery and therefore dangerous surface.
Attention: only for 3D Systems machines, CRP also suggests to take off the linking pin of the lateral metal two-pieces shields and leave only the upper shields, in order to avoid the vibrations due to shields touching the roll.
The build
With the first purchased batch, we will provide a CD with the config. files for the following machines:
- Material profile: for Vanguard HS HiQ
- Build profile: for Vanguard HS HiQ, Vanguard HS, Sinterstation 2500Plus
- Part profile: for Vanguard HS HiQ, Vanguard HS, Sinterstation 2500Plus
Moreover, it is possible to check the “GUIDE FOR 3D SYSTEMS MACHINES”, derived from CRP’s and its collaborators’ experience
Attention!!
The parameters of the temperature and the laser power in these Config.files are only indicative parameters and it is necessary to adapt them to your machines.
Carry out some tests on some samples in order to find the appropriate parameters!
For other 3D Systems machines and EOS machines it is possible to request specific information at the time of purchase. CRP assures maximum availability in sintering assistance in the eye of Customer Care.
Positioning in the sintering area of .stl files
It is recommended to always give precedence to carrier X, even when the “Cross Fill Scan” parameter of the Part Profile is qualified. CRP, however, does not recommend the qualification of the parameter because, although the production time is accelerated, it does not guarantee the same mechanical performance of the prototypes created with the “Cross Fill Scan” disabled.
Possibility of intervention during the sintering
It’s possible, in some cases, with 3D System machines, to intervene even during the sintering to reach the file.stl and, consequently, optimise the incomplete build, or modify some of the parameters in the case of an error. In particular, from CRP’s experience, it has been found that the “Inner/Outer Ratio” parameter is very important for keeping the temperature in the working area more homogenous.
Recycling
- First step: 100% unused/virgin powder
- Second step: utilize at least 30%(of the total quantity necessary to load the sinterstation) of the unused powder, in addition to the powder which remains in the overflow. Therefore, % minimum: 30% virgin/unused + 70% overflow.
- CRP does not recommend doing more than 10 consecutive builds with the same powder from the overflow.
- To completely safeguard the mechanical performance of all important prototypes, CRP advises against the use of the powder inside the Bed Part (cake). The non sinterised powder remaining in the central part, infact, loses a great deal of its mechanical performance due to the immediate thermal process.
The “Powder Quality file”, is also available, with the step by step detailed quality instructions.
Extraction of the build
Once the cooldown phase is finished, the machine is opened and the entire cube of powder, where the prototypes are, is extracted, along with the cube of appropriate plexiglass and at the metallic slit. Both are then placed on the cleaning table equipped with on the appropriate aspiration system.
Attention!!
In this phase a huge quantity of powder is dispersed in to the air and therefore it is important to pay particular attention the the volatile powder, and wear the appropriate protection as indicated on the safety sheet. One must also pay attention to the powder deposited on the ground which could create an extremely slippery and therefore dangerous surface. Immediately after the positioning of the build, the entire area around the sintering machine must be cleaned.
Extraction of pieces
One must pay particular attention so as not to cause deformation from an excessive thermal shock in the pieces when being extracted and when being placed on the shelf. It is important to delicately use brushes of all dimensions and hardness to remove as much powder as possible, before placing the prototypes in the sand blasting machine for the final cleaning, before the start of the finishing.
Desired Finish
|
TECHNICAL SHEET FOR SLS MANUAL FINISHING
Step 1.
for all SLS materials WINDFORM® family
Shot peening with ceramic powder with pressure between 4 and 6 bar.
Step 2.
it depends on the WINDFORM® material considered
Manual finishing of the surface with at least 2 or 3 different sizes of sandpaper; it depends on the material but, usually, first with the bigger size (100-120) and then with finer size (240 and eventually 800 to have a optimum smooth surface).
WINDFORM® GF and PRO:
1. sandpaper size 100.
2. sandpaper size 240.
3. eventually sandpaper size 800 to have the maximum smoothing.
WINDFORM®PRO-B and XT:
1. sandpaper size 120 or 140.
2. sandpaper size 240 or 340.
3. eventually sand paper size 800 and also 1200 to have the maximum smoothing.
Step 3.
only WINDFORM®PRO-B and XT
Final shot peening to give a greater chromatic uniformity to the black surface.
|
Packing
The packing depends on the type of shipping and the distance to the destination. One must pay particular attention to shipping in humid or very hot vehicles. Regardless of the elevated performance of the mechanics, the pieces with fine and delicate details, must be packed with extreme care and attention.
We highly recommend the use of shipping materials such as “pluriball” and polypropylene or paper shavings..
For any ulterior technical information:
This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it
Expected shelf life of this material is at least twelve months, when stored in dry conditions at ambient temperatures. This material is suited only for Rapid Prototyping Selective Laser Sintering technology applications. Look at the MSDS for further information about your safety.
DISCLAIMER OF LIABILITY: The following supersedes any provision in your company’s forms, letters, and papers. CRP Technology makes no warranty whether expressed or implied, including warranties of merchantability or of fitness for a particular purpose for this product. No statements or recommendations contained in the product literature are to be construed as inducements to infringe any relevant patent now or hereafter in existence. Under no circumstances shall
CRP Technology be liable for incidental, consequential, or other damages from alleged negligence, breach or warranty, strict liability or any other theory, arising out of the use or handling of this product. The sole liability of CRP Technology for any claims arising out of the manufacture, use or sale of its products shall be for the buyer’s purchase price.
This document belongs to CRP Technology and it’s severely forbidden its partial or total disclosure and it’s reproduction by every mean and in every different way.
|
|
|
Who's online
We have 19 guests online
|
