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17.
February
2021.
Fintek Bring Hirtisation® Post Processing of 3D Printed Metal Parts to the UK
Fintek have become the exclusive UK agent for RENA Technologies Austria GmbH H-series machines that use their patented Hirtisation® process for the precise and reliable post processing finishing of 3D printed metal parts.

Said Jonathan Dean, Fintek managing director, "The RENA H-series considerably expands our subcontract capability and machine offering for the surface finishing of metal parts made by additive manufacturing. RENA is a international firm, and we are delighted to work with them and gain from their extensive experience. The machines complements our existing disc, drag and stream finishing systems from OTEC."

The Hirtisation® process effectively removes support structures and powder cake but goes further by reducing the surface roughness of metal parts manufactured additively by 3D printing. The process is ideal for all common metals and alloys and all types of metal 3D printing technology such as Selective Laser Melting (SLM), Direct Metal Laser Sintering (DMLS) and Electron Beam Melting (EBM).

Crucially, the fully automated chemical-electrochemical process can reach deep into cavities, undercuts and other design intricacies characteristic in many AM parts and often impossible to reach by manual or mechanical techniques. As well as support structures, partially melted grains are also eliminated. As there are no harsh mechanical processing steps, the smoothing effect does not compromise the precision of edge profiles.

Printed metal parts leave the machine clean and vacuum dried in perfect readiness for subsequent finishing processes such as protective coatings. Cycle times are short, from just 30 minutes depending on part size and target quality. H-series machines are simple to operate, needing only the minimum of training for employees, even if they have little or no surface finishing experience. Designed to scale-up to any metal 3D printing business, all process chemicals are fully integrated and can be safely refilled.

Offered in three versions, the H3000 entry level is best for part sizes up to 300 x 300 x 150mm and can handle the part feed from up to three AM-printers. The H6000 takes parts up to 500 x 500 x 350mm and can handle the part feed from up to four AM-printers at a rate of up to 100 parts per hour. The H12000 integrates seamlessly into larger industrial additive manufacturing processes and can handle the part feed from up to 25 AM-printers using four different materials at once. It also has a parallel post processing capability of up to 500 parts per hour.

Concluding, Fintek operations manager, Jamie Phillips, said, "Accomplishing a commercially viable surface finish on additively manufactured metal parts has stopped the implementation of the technology for many applications. The Hirtisation® process removes this obstacle and at Fintek we also have the capability with the OTEC range of high energy stream finishing systems to take external surface roughness down to Ra values of 0.01μm."


More Information
Jamie Phillips, Operations Manager, Tel. +44 (0)1706 283 927
Fintek, Halter Inn Works, Holcombe Brook, Bury, Lancashire, BL0 9SA
Email: jamie@fintek.co.uk Web: www.fintek.co.uk

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