Post processing 3D printed parts, especially stereolithography aka SLA parts, is often an afterthought when buying a production SLA 3d printer from 3D Systems: Projet 6000, Projet 7000, SLA 750, Pro-X 800, Pro-X 950, Stratasys: Neo 450 or Neo 800 or a fleet of FormLabs SLA Form 3L machines . Some customers start with Rubbermaid containers filled with washing or stripping fluids like Isopropyl Alcohol (IPA), Jeffsol (Polyflush), ACE Wash fluid and others. Eventually the SLA department gets tired of manually washing every SLA part to remove the model material residue: uncured resin sticking to the part. Smart companies looking to accelerate SLA production go looking for automated SLA post processing systems.
What are the ACE Washer benefits?
The newest post processing unit on the market is ACE Washer from Pivot AM Service and it is CE certified. A Chicagoland customer buying a 3D Systems SLA 750 paired this new SLA 750 machine with an ACE tank. The project engineers/SLA operators were impressed with the simplicity of design, short lead time for delivery, and lower cost of the unit versus any other option on the market today. They stressed that there is nothing else on the market that can come close to these three attributes.
Who else makes SLA part washers and what are the differences?
Alternate, more expensive systems from Post Process: Demi series the Rador and Ramco / Ramkleen are available; the ACE Washer is about half the cost of these competing systems. The ACE Washer easily moves into place with a pump truck. Installation and operating cost is lower for the ACE Washer because you do not need an electrician to wire power to the unit, ACE only uses compressed air. Staff can typically run an extra air line, no contractors needed. The ACE Washer sips air at 1 cubic foot per minute (1CFM), other systems use much more compressed air to run their agitation cycles. Being 100% pneumatic the ACE Washer is much safer when running volatile washing fluids like 100% IPA. In addition the hood design on the ACE means the SLA parts tray can be tilted for draining with the lid closed, keeping the smell (VOC) inside, competitive systems need the lid open, allowing VOCs into the room, if you want to tilt the build tray to drain.
What sizes of SLA build tray or SLA platforms can ACE Washer handle?
Speaking of SLA build trays the ACE Washer is designed to accept all sizes of SLA build tray up to and including 800mm x 800mm trays with the ability to clamp down all sizes of build trays.
What types of companies have bought an ACE Washer?
Agile Manufacturing, Inc. in Beaverton Ontario was the first ACE Washer customer. Pivot AM Service has since refined the design with removable agitation unit for easy cleaning and wash fluid change over. Many customers from EV manufacturers to OEM SLA machine manufacturers have acquired ACE Washer and seen marked improvements in finished part quality and employee satisfaction.