Author: Solivet

One of the greatest struggles of our customers who use FDM printing is the amount of manual labor used in traditional post-printing methods. These inefficient methods require the use of pliers, picks, and dunk tanks tend that to warp parts. Even traditional manufacturing tumbler solutions require high attended technician time.

Here at PostProcess, we understand these struggles and set out to offer another solution to help expedite your FDM finishing needs. The latest addition to our FDM support removal suite, the VORSA 500™, provides a full-stack solution for all of your FDM support removal needs. If you’re looking for the fastest cycle times in the industry with reduced attended technician time, the VORSA 500 could be a great solution for you.

Patented Technology

The VORSA 500 uses PostProcess’ patented Volumetric Velocity Dispersion (VVD for short). Our AUTOMAT3D software controls our VVD technology and uses our additive-specific chemistry. Two jet rack manifolds leverage spray technology which optimizes the chemistry by disposing of support materials as it weakens, dramatically reducing cycle times. The manifolds offer a high volume flow complemented by low pressure, gentle on complex or fragile geometries.

AUTOMAT3D Software

We equipped the VORSA 500 with our patented AUTOMAT3D™ software. Our AUTOMAT3D software comes with pre-set agitation levels with a corresponding temperature for quick processing and parameter set up. These pre-set recipes are in our user-friendly, multi-touch HMI interface to help take the guesswork out of post-printing. Operators can spend less time setting parameters and will be able to “press play and walk away.”

Brand New Hardware

The VORSA 500 has a 16.5’’ X 16.5” X 14.5” processing chamber with 6 manifolds on top and 6 manifolds across the bottom. These manifolds are bidirectional and process the entire chamber. The 4 flex nozzles inside the processing chamber provide an additional flow if necessary for any hard-to-reach channels or complex geometries.
Some other notable features on the VORSA 500 include:

• Drying rack/staging area
• Manual chamber door release
• Safety circuit reset button

Additive Formulated Chemistry

We specifically developed PostProcess’ detergents for additive post-printing. Our latest detergents have better longevity than all typical solvents (e.g. IPA, TPM, DPM), which means less frequent chemical change-outs, improved environmental friendliness, and a safer workplace environment. All of our detergents are pre-mixed, which means your technicians will not have to worry about mixing chemicals. The VORSA 500 detergent tank supplies the processing chamber with the detergent, using our proprietary PLM-201-SPRAY and PLM-202-SPRAY, and is DOSATRON administered.

Our transformative three-step software, hardware, and chemistry approach can revolutionize your FDM post-printing. You can meet the VORSA 500 and check out all it offers for your company in an upcoming live tour here.

-> Want to connect? Contact Us

-> Return to Blog Homepage

Many companies have begun to implement additive manufacturing into their production workflows. While additive manufacturing can help increase your production capabilities, it can also come with an increased number of parts that need to be processed, creating massive bottlenecks in your workflow and processes if you aren’t careful. With this in mind, you may want to consider an automated post-printing solution to help maximize your production.

Traditional Post-Printing Methods
Most 3D printed parts require some sort of post-processing to get them customer-ready. Traditional post-printing methods include the use of hand tools, water jets, and sandpaper. Hand-sanding, manual debulking, and support removal by hand increases the time to create a part, affecting your bottom line. Your finished parts may also be inconsistent, so even after investing a significant amount of time and money, you may still not be able to use that traditionally finished part.

Why Automate your Process?
It’s evident that traditional post-printing methods can affect your additive manufacturing workflow. Bottlenecks can cause major backups and increase turnaround times. Your results can also be inconsistent due to the manual labor required.

Automating your post-printing process may be a great option to help your additive manufacturing operation run smoother, have more consistent parts, and increase your throughput. It can ease many of the setbacks and additional time and labor expected with traditional post-printing processes. High-quality parts with a repeatable, consistent post-printing process can revolutionize your additive operation and allow you to scale up the capabilities of your operation.

How to Integrate Automation to Scale Your Additive Manufacturing
How can you integrate automation into your post-printing? We here at PostProcess were the first company to pioneer fully automated post-printing solutions specifically for AM, connecting end-to-end digitization from the design step to the post-print step. Our automated solutions use a patent-pending combination of integrated technologies: software, hardware, and chemistry, to help eliminate manual labor in the post-printing process.

Our friendly, intuitive software digitizes post-printing. It’s developed from hundreds of benchmark parts of all technologies and materials. Our tailored recipes ensure a precise finish, reducing your operator attendance time and enabling scalability and volume production printing.

It’s clear that automation during post-printing simply makes sense. It could also be a crucial part of your additive manufacturing process. Are you interested in learning more about our automated, intelligent, and comprehensive post-printing solutions? Contact us today!

-> Want to connect? Contact Us

-> Return to Blog Homepage

The traditional approach to PolyJet support removal is not optimized for today’s additive manufacturing world. If the bulk of your PolyJet support removal is still done by hand or with outdated equipment, you likely deal with unnecessarily long wait times and warped or inconsistently finished parts. You deserve a support removal solution that’s conducive to softer materials and parts with more complex internal channels. At PostProcess, we are solely focused on solutions that solve additive manufacturing’s post-printing bottleneck problem.

Three factors set us apart from others in the post-printing industry. Our comprehensive solution to PolyJet post-printing includes:

• Cutting-edge AUTOMAT3D™ software allows you to control algorithms that enable you to manage and optimize the process easily.
• Our Submersed Vortex Cavitation (SVC) technology fully submerges parts and print trays to enable our chemistry to access complex geometries.
• Exclusive additive-formulated chemistry provides a safer work environment with minimal waste handling.

Our automated and intelligent solution is trusted to tackle all of your PolyJet support removal needs. By unlocking your full potential for PolyJet 3D printing, you can scale your operations exponentially. Check it out:

• Reduced Labor & Operator Error with a simple, software-controlled, intuitive interface. AUTOMAT3D®, the software behind our technology, utilizes sensor monitoring for agitation control that can reduce breakage PolyJet rates to as low as 0.1%.
• Increased Throughput by more than 30% compared to traditional manual water blasting, making the PostProcess PolyJet support removal the fastest system on the market.
• Advanced Process Controls utilize the technology  to control multiple energy sources to optimize PolyJet support removal. This is essential for parts that have very complex intricate details or very thin and fragile walls.
• Increased Consistency & Reduced Damage through our SVC technology’s pump scheme that ensures “parts that float sink, and parts that sink float.” In other words, regardless of density or geometry, SVC will ensure that the part is uniformly exposed to the detergent and cavitation from the ultrasonics, enabling a uniform finish.

Need more convincing? Protolabs is one of the many companies that realized significant and quick return-on-investment with a PostProcess support removal solution, reducing labor time by 50% and effectively freeing up 20 valuable labor hours per week. Read more about their experience here.

Ready to learn more? Discover the ideal solutions for PolyJet support removal here.

-> Want to connect? Contact Us

-> Return to Blog Homepage

New year, new you. The new year is a great time to reflect on your upcoming goals for the new year. Innovations within the additive manufacturing market will continue to move us into industry 4.0. What’s your game plan for the next 12 months? Our 3rd Annual Post-Printing Survey Report may help shed some light on a few goals for the upcoming year. If you need some ideas for your own additive manufacturing workflow, here are five things to add to your to-do list for post-processing in 2022.

1. Consider EH&S Concerns When You Select a Post-Processing Method

Environmental, health, and safety concerns are more and more critical in the workplace. Many manufacturers are more aware of the impact of their work environment on their employees. In fact, 60% of respondents are looking to improve their post-processing operations’ health, safety, and sustainability. It’s essential to keep your employees safe during the printing and post-printing process.

Traditional post-processing can create hazardous environments. For example, some methods use IPA to help clean the part, which can be a severe environmental hazard with its low flashpoint. To create a safer environment, a 2022 goal may be to reduce, if not eliminate, your usage of IPA in post-printing and PostProcess can help. Our solutions process parts with a higher flash point, reducing the risk to both your lab and everyone working in it.

2. Reduce Your Post-Printing Costs

Did you know: some additive manufacturers are spending as much as 30% of their total part cost on post-processing alone? Or that 20% of manufacturers are unaware of the cost of their post-processing? But it doesn’t need to be this way.

2022 offers an opportunity to evaluate all your post-processing options find a better alternative to your current methods. Chances are there are better alternatives that can help save you money and increase your throughput. Automation is one way to revolutionize your post-processing. Don’t believe us? Check out our case study on Enhancing Resin Removal for SLA Additive Manufactured Parts.

3. Plan to Finish Your Parts Faster

Post-processing in additive manufacturing can be labor-intensive and take a significant amount of time. Our survey found that the #1 pain point three years running across all print technologies is the time to complete parts. This can include anything from manual support removal with tools to hand-sanding surface finishing.

When evaluating your post-printing solution, assess how much time employees spend when they manually finish parts. Ask yourself questions like: Is there a better way to complete the task? Are there alternative ways to process the part? Can we increase throughput and decrease the time spent finishing each part?

In case you didn’t guess, there is a better way to complete post-printing solutions that takes into consideration software, hardware, and chemistry. Read testimonials from customers for real-life examples of how PostProcess decreased their overall post-processing time.

4. Integrate Automation Into Your Post-Processing

2022 could be the year to evaluate your post-processing. Traditionally, manufacturers had to have technicians take hours to finish parts via hand sanding and manual support removal to create the end-user part. This is time-consuming, costly, and can lead to broken or inconsistent parts.

However, your post-printing time and labor could be reduced significantly by automating the process. Check out some of our case studies to discover how customers are taking advantage of automated post-processing solutions.

5. Plan for Post-Prrocessing in Your Design Phase for FDM

Our survey revealed the most popular type of 3D printing is still material extrusion (73.2%). Specifically, with FDM, many manufacturers struggle with consistency and the time it takes to finish parts. But did you know you can help alleviate some of these concerns before your print process even begins?

Our white paper discusses further the value of a DfAM centered approach technique for FDM 3D printed parts like material selection, part orientation, self-supporting angles, and contour toolpaths. Taking these techniques into consideration can reduce time, cost, and even material savings to revolutionize your post-printing workflows.

If you’re ready to evaluate your post-printing process in 2022, be sure to reach out to us here at PostProcess. Our intelligent post-printing solutions offer a comprehensive, data-driven system that delivers transformative benefits for additive manufacturing post-printing – patent-pending Hardware, proprietary Software, and additive formulated Chemistry. We have a range of automated and intelligent solutions that will provide unparalleled support removal and surface finishing to your 3D printed material.

-> Want to connect? Contact Us

-> Return to Blog Homepage

In an increasingly digitized world, podcasts have reacquainted society with the art of audio storytelling. Plus, in today’s “always on” landscape, podcasts are an efficient and effective way to learn on-the-go or while multitasking. As post-printing is becoming more widely recognized as a critical step of additive manufacturing, and its impact on scalability becomes more apparent, PostProcess Technologies CEO Jeff Mize has had the opportunity to be featured on several additive and manufacturing-focused podcasts.

Check out some of his latest appearances, speaking to the industry’s trusted automated post-printing technology:

3D POD

From the Executive Editor of 3DPrint.com, Joris Peels, and additive-focused Co-Founder/Inventor Maxwell Bogue, 3D Pod discusses insights and reports on all things additive manufacturing. When Jeff joins the podcast for Episode 59, the three discuss how the need for PostProcess Technologies was recognized, and the future of 3D printing as it relates to scalable post-printing. Thanks to the plethora of engineering knowledge amongst the three, the discussion also delves into the intricacies of the PostProcess technologies themselves.

Tune In>>> 

Advanced Manufacturing Now Podcast by SME

Presented by SME Media, a leading news outlet for North American advanced manufacturing, the Advanced Manufacturing Now Podcast is hosted by Chris Mahar. Chris and Jeff Mize cover how the additive landscape has adapted to COVID-19 supply chain disruptions, and speak extensively to the benefits and potential of end-to-end digital connectivity.

Listen Here>>>

The PostProcess Pod: A Chat with Data Scientist Dr. Usama Fayyad

Our first-ever “PostProcess Pod” episode! In this segment, Jeff Mize speaks with the latest addition to our Board, Dr. Usama Fayyad, PhD. Dr. Fayyad shares his journey of becoming the world’s first Chief Data Officer, and other anecdotes from his illustrious career with data. The two discuss how Dr. Fayyad came to discover what’s termed as the “post-printing bottleneck”, where he sees additive manufacturing headed, and how he came to team up with PostProcess.

Listen Today>>> 

Manufacturing Happy Hour

Requirement: must listen with your favorite beverage in-hand! Tune in to this additive-focused episode of Manufacturing Happy Hour, an insightful and upbeat manufacturing podcast hosted by Chris Luecke. In the episode featuring Jeff, the two discuss some of the most prominent opportunities and challenges in additive, how automated post-printing fits into the greater manufacturing/Industry 4.0 mix, and of course, their favorite west coast breweries. Plus, Jeff and Chris stumble upon a theme in Jeff’s career – digitizing analog processes.

Hear It Now>>> 

ReMake Manufacturing

ReMake Manufacturing discusses the unflinching truth about design, technology, marketing, and growth within the manufacturing sector. PostProcess CEO Jeff Mize sits down with Sean Redfearn from Redfern Media to discuss new challenges appearing in the manufacturing sector like supply chains and sustainability. They also dive further into the future of manufacturing and how we’re working to digitize manual repetitive tasks so manufacturers can focus their time on more value-adding activities.

Listen Now>>> 

Go beyond the podcast. To delve into the proven automated post-printing technology that Jeff is discussing in these episodes, visit our main site, or explore our white papers.