Sintavia, LLC, a designer and 3D printer of flight and launch components, has published an overview of proper handling procedures for powder condensate waste generated as part of the powder bed fusion additive manufacturing (AM) process.
The paper, titled, "Overview of ," was written by Ashley Wallace, Sintavia's Quality & EHS Engineer, in collaboration with the Additive Manufacturer Green Trade Association (AMGTA) and Triumvirate Environmental.
Powder condensate is the term used to describe solidified particles resulting from the evaporation of metal alloys during the powder bed fusion AM process. This condensate, which is a waste stream unique to AM, is either deposited into a collection chamber within the AM printer (considered to be "dry" condensate) or wet-vacuumed out of the build chamber itself (considered, along with melt spatter contemporaneously removed, to be "wet" condensate). Both wet and dry condensate may be hazardous and must be disposed of pursuant to applicable environmental regulations.
Because metal AM is only now entering maturity with respect to production, powder condensate as a waste stream has previously neither been a major concern for operators nor studied widely. However, high volume manufacturers increasingly need to allocate proper resources for the safe disposal of this material. In order to do so, powder condensate should be classified as a separate waste stream and documented appropriately with cost-effective methods for its disposal.
This paper discusses the procedures used in the U.S. for analyzing and disposing of condensate from the powder bed fusion process, and provides a real-world example of how one high-volume manufacturer handles this disposal
According to Wallace, "Knowing where each condensate stream is going is just as important as the proper preparation of each type of waste. As Sintavia has grown, we have recognized that proper disposal of all of our waste streams must be a priority. We have worked with Triumvirate Environmental and other experts within the industry to manage the final disposal of these streams according to regulatory requirements."
The full paper is available on the AMGTA website at amgta.org/resources/.
For more information contact:
Sintavia
2500 SW 39th Street
Hollywood, FL 33312
954-474-7800
info@sintavia.com
www.sintavia.com
AMGTA
2500 SW 39th Street
Hollywood, FL 33312
954-308-0888
info@amgta.org
www.amgta.org
Triumvirate Environmental
200 Inner Belt Road
Somerville, MA 02143
888-834-9697
www.triumvirate.com