Issued patent
High Flow Differential Cleaning
An issued NASA patent from the Technology Transfer catalog.
About this technology
Overview
Powder-based AM methods typically require post-fabrication component cleaning to remove residue powder from the surface and crevices of the part, a task that becomes increasingly difficult and time consuming with part complexity. Methods currently available to clean AM parts have significant drawbacks. Immersive cleaning using solvents or solutions can cause powder clumping. Forms of blasting (e.g., wet, bead, hydro, bristle, vacuum, etc.) work on line-of-site surfaces but are ineffective for recessed cavities. Such cleaning is typically manual, highly time consuming, and requires careful use of personal protective equipment to avoid powder inhalation. Thus, the AM market would benefit from a more automated, rapid, and effective method for cleaning complex parts.