New deal brings reliable finishing of 3D printed metal parts to the UK

Fintek managing director, Jonathan Dean, commented: "The Rena H-series complements our existing disc, drag and stream finishing ranges from OTEC. They significantly expand our subcontract capability and machine offering for the surface finishing of additively manufactured metal parts. Rena is a global company, and we are pleased to be able to draw on their extensive experience."

The Hirtisation process effectively removes support structures and powder cake but goes further by reducing the surface roughness of metal parts manufactured additively by 3D printing. The process is suitable for all common metals and alloys and all types of metal 3D printing technology such as Selective Laser Melting (SLM), Direct Metal Laser Sintering (DMLS) and Electron Beam Melting (EBM).

Importantly, the fully automated chemical-electrochemical process is able to reach deep into cavities, undercuts and other design intricacies inherent in many AM parts that are often impossible to reach by manual or mechanical methods. Along with support structures, partially melted grains are also eliminated. As there are no harsh mechanical processing steps, the smoothing effect does not compromise the precision of edge profiles.

Printed metal parts leave the machine clean and vacuum dried in perfect readiness for subsequent finishing processes such as protective coatings. Cycle times are short, from just 30 minutes depending on part size and target quality.

H-series machines are easy to operate, requiring the minimum of training for personnel, even if they have little or no surface finishing experience. Designed to scale-up to any metal 3D printing operation, all process chemicals are fully integrated and can be safely refilled.

Available in three versions, the H3000 entry level is ideal for part sizes up to 300 x 300 x 150mm and can handle the part feed from up to three AM printers. The H6000 takes parts up to 500 x 500 x 350mm and can handle the part feed from up to four AM-printers at a rate of up to 100 parts per hour.

The H12000 is designed to integrate seamlessly into larger industrial additive manufacturing processes and can handle the part feed from up to 25 AM-printers using four different materials at once. It also has a parallel post processing capability of up to 500 parts per hour.

Fintek operations manager, Jamie Phillips, concludes: "Achieving a commercially viable surface finish on additively manufactured metal parts has prevented the adoption of the technology for many applications. The Hirtisation process removes this barrier and at Fintek we also have the capability with the OTEC range of high energy stream finishing systems to take external surface roughness down to Ra values of 0.01μm."

Fintek www.fintek.co.uk