SLM dry separation: Ruwac showcases R26 for near-complete powder recovery

Ruwac is presenting the R26 dry separator at Formnext 2025, which is intended to eliminate manual depowdering in selective laser melting (SLM) and recover metal powder almost completely. After a concept premiere last year, series units are now running in the field. According to the “Additive Manufacturing” competence center, the system targets closed material cycles without altering the chemical or physical properties of the powder.

The core of the solution is a high-speed cyclone staged as a pre-separator, installed upstream of the NA-series wet separators established for metal 3D printing. In the cyclone, most of the extracted powder is separated dry; only residual fractions are inertized in the downstream wet separator. The dry-separated powder can be reused in the build process after sieving. Cyclone technology is well known, but here it had to be adapted so that reactive powders do not lead to uncontrolled reactions. Ruwac points to design measures such as continuous equipotential bonding of all components of the pre-separator.

Internal tests at the development center yielded dry recovery of over 98% of the extracted powder. In initial real-world deployments, a 3D printing service provider reports retention and reuse rates of more than 99.9% with the R26. Beyond material costs, the solution also addresses process times: because the build chamber no longer needs to be depowdered manually and can be vacuumed directly, the SLM system is available again more quickly. The handling is described by the manufacturer as simple; containers can be removed and emptied, and the fill level is displayed on the device.

The R26 can be combined with various wet separators (NA7-26, NA7-11, NA35) and can be retrofitted. In the context of rising powder prices and qualification requirements in metal AM, dry separation promises a measurable reduction in scrap and downtime. At Formnext, Ruwac plans to show the series model and provide an outlook on further expansion stages.