On September 18, UK-based Additive Manufacturing Technology (AMT) announced the launch of its patented machine, PostPro3D, which automatically smoothes 3D printed elastomers and nylon parts. When trying to 3D print high quality parts with smooth and uniform surface finishes, post-processing is just as important as printing itself. The award-winning PostPro3D technology is based on AMT's Boundary Layer Automatic Smoothing Technology (BLAST), a physicochemical process that smoothes the complex internal cavity of thermoplastic polymers without reducing the mechanical properties of the part.
The processing room size of the PostPro3D machine is 600 x 400 x 400 mm, which can process large numbers of parts simultaneously. Typical processing time is 90-120 minutes, and parts are available for final application in different industries. According to China 3D Printing Network, PostPro3D can achieve surface finishes with Ra less than 1 micron on parts printed using laser sintering, HP multi-jet fusion, high-speed sintering or fused deposition molding technology.
Last year, AMT was awarded 625,000 pounds ($ 778,000) by Innovate UK for the development of automatic post-processing machines for 3D printed polymer parts. The process works with every 3D printed material, for example, AMT has been working with HP to develop specific processing of nylon MJF parts.
The commercial version of PostPro3D is available for order with delivery date of the fourth quarter of 2018. AMT confirms that the base price of PostPro3D is approximately 75,000 Euros. In addition to the launch of PostPro3D, AMT also announced the opening of a part processing service at its Sheffield plant, which will allow potential customers to try the technology before buying. Positioning is based on customers who need less part handling.