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Build plate removal in PBF-LB
Separating metal AM parts from the build plate – an underestimated challenge Within the Additive Manufacturing workflow, it is easy to underestimate the challenge of removing parts from a build plate. As GF Machining Solutions' Dogan Basic explains, in Laser Beam Powder Bed Fusion (PBF-LB) the wrong choice of equipment can lead to higher costs, longer build times and even part breakages. In response to this challenge, the company developed a solution designed specifically for PBF-LB build plate removal: the AgieCharmilles CUT AM 500. Here, Basic introduces the features and benefits that the CUT AM 500 brings to the industry.
The Additive Manufacturing of metal parts is a complex process that requires specific expertise and highperformance solutions. Beyond just the build complexity, the majority of parts built with Laser Beam Powder Bed Fusion (PBF-LB) technology require critical post-processing steps, which have an impact on the geometry and quality of the final part and must be considered from the early stages of part design, and, therefore, can be restrictive. Among these critical steps is the separation of the parts from the build plate. This step may seem trivial, but in fact presents many challenges. Should you have the opportunity to visit companies that use PBF-LB machines, you will discover that several techniques can be used for the separation process. Some of them may use so-called manual processes, typically for the smallest parts, such as dental implants, for which the support structures are easily breakable. As part size increases, other techniques are necessary and require the use of machining to remove the parts from
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the build plate. The most common processes used for this are bandsaw cutting and wire-cutting EDM. The choice of technology used will depend on criteria such as the size of the part, its geometry, the build material, and the intended application, as well as the profile of the company,
its sector of activity and even its geographical location. When looking at the bandsaw option, one can easily see the robustness of the process, the attractive price it offers and the cutting speed as key advantages. With regard to EDM, generally recognised advantages are the cut quality,
Fig. 1 The AgieCharmilles CUT AM 500, developed by GF Machining Solutions
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