N2 generators for Sinterstation

From: Ian Gibson (University of Hong Kong), Gunnar Palm (Institutet för Verkstadsteknisk Forskning)
Date: Saturday, October 21, 1995

From: Ian Gibson (University of Hong Kong), Gunnar Palm (Institutet för Verkstadsteknisk Forskning)
To: RP-ML
Date: Saturday, October 21, 1995
Subject: N2 generators for Sinterstation
Hello
     What I am looking for is informattion from Sinerstation users. We are
currently going through a lot of Nitrogen which buy at exhorbitant prices
from our local supplier. I have heard that some people have been using
Nitrogen generators with some degree of success with their Sinterstations. I
also heard that EOSint machines have an integral generator.
     Am I right in the above statements? Should I expect any degradation of
parts? Where can I get a generator from? What is the basic spec for a
generator? I was told there were 2 reasons for using N2, remove risk of
explosion and oxidation of parts. Both these suggest a removal of oxygen
rather than an absolute need for N2. The air in Hong Kong is not what you
would call pure and I suspect the use of N2 generators will result in low
levels of O2 but maybe not other contaminants like CO, SO2, etc. Once again,
am I right?
Ian G

Date: Fri, 27 Oct 95 13:10:10 +0100
     At IVF-KTH in Stockholm we run our Sinterstation 2000 with a nitrogen
generator from Dominick Hunter, without any problems. We had the
generator installed about a year ago (before that we run the
Sinterstation with bottled nitrogen).
     The generator separates the nitrogen from compressed air using a carbon
molecular sieve - Pressure Swing Adsorption (PSA). 
     Our generator is dimensioned so that it can produce 3,2 normal cubic
meters per hour at a purity of 99,9%. This flow is about twice as much
as the Sinterstation needs when it is up and running producing parts.
Although during purge (evacuating the chamber) a flow of about 8,0
normal cubic meters per hour is needed for about 20 minutes - for that
we help the generator with bottled nitrogen, wich also serves as a backup.
     I don't think that the air in citys like Hong Kong is a problem - as I
understand it, the important issue is to eliminate the oxygen, so
perhaps bad air is an advantage.
     For more product specific information contact:
Dominick Hunter limited
Durham Road Birtley
Co. Durham, England DH3 2SF.
Tel: UK (0) 91 410 5121
Telefax: UK (0) 91 410 5313
     The company also have representation in USA, Germany, Sweden, Spain, Japan.
Gunnar Palm
IVF-KTH


Previous message | Next message
Back to 1995 index