Dry ice blasting: Efficient post-processing in additive manufacturing at toolcraft

Additive manufacturing has transformed production in numerous industries by enabling the manufacture of complex geometries without the use of traditional tools. Industries such as aerospace and medical technology benefit from shorter production times and reduced material consumption. Nevertheless, some process steps, such as the removal of support structures, still pose challenges. With dry ice blasting, toolcraft AG has now developed a new approach to overcome this hurdle more efficiently.

Traditionally, support structures are removed using manual processes, which are both time-consuming and prone to errors. With tools such as hammers and chisels, there is also the risk of damaging sensitive components. With the SupportBlaster 320-HA dry ice blasting system, toolcraft AG has created a semi-automated solution that speeds up the process and makes it safer at the same time. By using dry ice pellets, the support structures are removed without damaging the component surfaces. This not only improves product quality, but also significantly reduces processing times.

“Companies that continue to rely on traditional, manual processes will come under pressure in the future. The market is increasingly demanding automated and technology-supported solutions,” says Christoph Hauck, Director of Technology and Sales at toolcraft AG.

toolcraft AG shows that the further development of post-processing technologies can make a significant contribution to increasing efficiency in additive manufacturing. Particularly in areas with high precision and quality requirements, the integration of such processes opens up new perspectives for economically and technologically sustainable production.