AM Solutions, alongside Headmade Materials and research institute Neue Materialien Bayreuth, has announced an innovative development in green part processing within the Cold Metal Fusion (CMF) 3D printing technology, part of their collaborative project “AutoSmooth.” Launched last year, AutoSmooth aims to automate CMF by streamlining unpacking, depowdering, and surface processing for 3D-printed parts, with the new processing system set for release next year.
AM Solutions’ latest approach to green part processing involves a shot blasting method that simultaneously depowders and smooths surfaces, effectively eliminating staircase effects and achieving high surface quality in a single pass. In many cases, this obviates the need for additional finishing after sintering, delivering substantial time savings. The process also integrates powder recovery for reuse, adding to its cost-efficiency and sustainability. This 2-in-1 depowdering and smoothing solution, paired with a specialized clamping system, enables precise handling of delicate green parts.
CMF technology uniquely leverages affordable, powder bed-based polymer printers for metal part production without requiring support structures, reducing post-processing demands. Green parts produced via CMF are more stable than those created with other binder-based processes, resulting in greater reliability and durability.
Dr. Till Merkel, Division Manager at Rösler Oberflächentechnik GmbH, emphasized the impact of this innovation, stating, “Our new development provides the ‘missing link’ in post-processing, allowing CMF technology to advance significantly. This opens the door to cost-effective, automated workflows, fully unlocking additive mass production’s potential for metal parts and reducing unit costs.”
