- ADDvance® Cryoclean system can remove surface oxides, unfused powders and residues
Bridgewater, N.J., U.S., May 23, 2018 – Linde LLC showcased the new ADDvance® Cryoclean system for blast cleaning parts produced by additive manufacturing (AM) or other powder-metal processes, along with a range of gas-based solutions for advancing AM production, at RAPID + TCT 2018.
The ADDvance Cryoclean technology uses a combination of CO2 snow particles and a blasting abrasive to remove particles and difficult residues from 3D printed parts. This includes surface oxides and unfused powders that need to be removed prior to further processing or surface finishing.
“One of the advantages of additive manufacturing is that high-quality parts can be designed with specific features,” said Grzegorz Moroz, Program Manager, Metals, Linde LLC. “But complex shapes mean more surface details and more angles to clean. Proper surface cleaning with the ADDvance Cryoclean system helps achieve optimal parts quality to meet requirements for further processing and other customer requirements,” he said.
The Cryoclean system produces CO2 snow on-demand by feeding liquid CO2 into a specially-designed cleaning chamber, making it an environmentally-friendly and cost-effective alternative to existing power wash and sandblast cleaning processes.
Unlike traditional abrasive cleaning, no additional cleaning is necessary. Since the Cryoclean system does not require the use of water or other solvents, there is no moisture to corrode metals, no need for drying, and no wastewater. It can be used as a manual system or implemented as an automated cleaning solution.
“As additive manufacturers progress from prototyping to production, the need for solvent-free and automated cleaning solutions grows,” said Neeraj Saxena, Ph.D., Vice-President of Metals, Glass & Manufacturing Industries, Linde, Americas. “This flexible technology can help manufacturers scale up and pull ahead of the competition,” he said.
Linde can add value across the additive manufacturing chain, from powder metal production and 3D printing to thermal treatment and finishing. As a global leader in industrial gases and technology, the Linde Group operates a global R&D Center for AM in Munich, and collaborates with universities and manufacturers such as Airbus Group Innovations to improve AM processes. Linde also participates in the ACCLAIM project consortium for Accelerated Cladding and Integrated Machining.
Linde LLC offers a portfolio of solutions for the ferrous and non-ferrous metallurgy industries, ranging from gases and equipment to services and process consulting, for powder metal production, additive manufacturing, combustion, heat treatment and cooling. For more information, contact Linde (www.lindeus.com), 800-755-9277.
About The Linde Group
In the 2017 financial year, The Linde Group generated revenue of USD 21.1 bn (EUR 17.113 bn), making it one of the leading gases and engineering companies in the world, with approximately 58,000 employees working in more than 100 countries worldwide. The strategy of The Linde Group is geared towards long-term profitable growth and focuses on the expansion of its international business, with forward-looking products and services. Linde acts responsibly towards its shareholders, business partners, employees, society and the environment in every one of its business areas, regions and locations across the globe. The company is committed to technologies and products that unite the goals of customer value and sustainable development.
Source: The Linde Group
