Solukon's SPR-Pathfinder® PRO enhances depowdering for complex LPBF parts
Solukon's new SPR-Pathfinder® PRO software offers advanced simulation and inspection capabilities to address depowdering challenges in highly complex metal additive manufactured parts.
As metal additive manufacturing, particularly Laser Powder Bed Fusion (LPBF), enables increasingly intricate part geometries, the post-processing step of depowdering is becoming a critical bottleneck. Solukon's SPR-Pathfinder® PRO software aims to tackle this challenge by providing enhanced simulation depth, process transparency, and accurate time prediction for complex LPBF components.
The software upgrade is a direct response to market demands driven by the need for reliable powder removal in advanced geometries, such as heat exchangers with sub-millimeter internal channels or rocket combustion chambers with complex cooling circuits. Residual powder in such critical internal structures can pose a certification risk in aerospace and lead to costly rework and delays in serial production.
SPR-Pathfinder® PRO introduces three key capabilities beyond its standard version. It supports a significantly higher simulation resolution with up to 1,000,000 particles and an unlimited number of voxels, allowing for accurate computation of the most intricate internal structures. The software simulates the part's movement during the cleaning process, making it more understandable for operators.
Furthermore, the PRO version enables cross-sectional inspection in all planes (X, Y, and Z), offering operators full visibility inside the part to identify potential powder traps and bottlenecks before printing. It also allows for granular adjustment of part transparency. Crucially, SPR-Pathfinder® PRO provides users with the ability to accurately predict the calculation and depowdering process time, integrating it into production schedules and eliminating a significant unknown in production planning.
Solukon now offers SPR-Pathfinder® software in two versions: Basic for moderately complex components and PRO for highly complex parts where process transparency and production planning precision are paramount. Both versions are compatible with Solukon's range of automated depowdering systems.
The development of SPR-Pathfinder® PRO addresses a growing challenge in LPBF: ensuring complete powder removal from increasingly complex internal geometries. This software enhancement is crucial for unlocking the full potential of additive manufacturing for high-value applications in aerospace and other sectors, where part integrity and reliable post-processing are non-negotiable for industrial adoption and serial production.
Edited by the news editor with AI from the original report — please refer to the original source.