Automated Powder Recovery System for 3D Printing

This document is a technical report detailing the implementation of a fully automated additive manufacturing powder recovery system at General Motors' Additive Industrialization Center (AIC). The AIC, established to enhance product development through 3D printing, faced challenges with manual powder handling, which resulted in significant downtime and safety risks for operators. The report outlines General Motors' decision to automate the powder reclaim process to improve efficiency and safety. After a request for quotation process, General Motors selected Russell Finex and the AMPro® Sieve Station due to their expertise in powder handling and safety in additive manufacturing. The implementation of the AMPro® Sieve Station has reduced the time required to refill 3D printers from a full shift to less than one hour, thus saving between four and eight hours on each additive build. The automation has minimized operator involvement in the powder handling process, enhancing safety by reducing exposure to hazardous materials.