Industries and Additive Manufacturing
ADDITIVE MANUFACTURING
Additive manufacturing (FA) or 3D printing is a technique widely used today in the industry for applications in aeronautics, medical or any other field requiring the implementation of metal powders (titanium, aluminium, alloys, stainless steel, superalloys …).
We design special glove boxes and large volume containment enclosures that meet the requirements of additive manufacturing at all stages: argon containment of process machines and robots, gas management and recycling systems allowing work at low levels in O2 and H2O, reconditioning of powders before process, post-process potting of parts and printing plates, storage and recycling of powders.
The enclosures developed by our R&D department and our design office in Lyon (France) have many advantages:
- They ensure a secure containment of pyrophoric powders in a hermetic volume under a controlled atmosphere and form a protective barrier for operators and the environment.
- Many accessories or specialist equipment, argon purifiers, filtration units, and so on, ptimise the operation of these containment enclosures.
NANOPOWDERS
We have developed an entirely custom-designed nanopowder glove box. Originally conceived for a large electronic industry group, the nanopowder glove box can be used as an advanced materials glove box. This containment chamber with controlled oxygen and humidity rates makes it possible to secure all stages of weighing, transfer and repackaging of fine powders.
The nanopowder glove box, with integrated weighing scales, protects operators and eliminates any risk of flammability of powders in contact with air.
Powder bags are introduced into an airlock and connected under the glove box. After the airlock has been activated and the oxygen level checked, the interior door can be unlocked in order to take out of the bag an amount of powder that is weighed and transferred directly into a barrel. Once sealed, the barrel is evacuated via a safe exit airlock. The two airlocks are equipped with an automatic up-and-down tray for optimized ergonomics. Safety systems (interlocking) prevent any accidental opening of the doors.
We design glove boxes for all applications exposed to various problems of volatile or electrostatic powders, nanoparticles of metal alloys, ceramic or metallic nanopowders … such as additive manufacturing, aeronautics, microelectronics, nanotechnologies, defence, medical, or pharmaceuticals.
Whatever the nature and properties of the powders, the operations to be carried out and the security constraints specific to the project, Jacomex produces nanopowder glove boxes with attention to detail: from the very design of the enclosure and its structure (internal cleanability, surface finish), via its operating mode under overpressure or vacuum under air or inert gas, reducing ESD risks until the powders are recovered and recycled.
We service sectors where it is necessary to secure the powder processes and protect the operator and the environment:
- Additive and aeronautical manufacturing: implementation of metallic powders, including titanium, aluminium, alloys, stainless steel, superalloys, confinement under inert atmosphere of machines and robots, gas management and recycling allowing to work at low O2 and H20 contents, reconditioning of powders before process, post-process powder coating of parts and printing trays, storage and recycling of powders.
- Industry and research: Eliminating or reducing the risks of flammability and explosiveness of nanopowders in glove boxes under controlled atmosphere.
- Research in energy and organic electronic devices: implementation of carbon nanotubes, functional polymer materials, fullerenes, and graphene.
- Pharmaceutical: filtration, drying, weighing, repackaging of toxic powders, active ingredients, cytotoxics, etc.
OPERATOR PROTECTION
Whether in research or production, a growing number of operations and processes require enhanced protection for operators and the environment, such as handling of highly active products, corrosive vapours, acids and solvents, powder transfer, implementation nanoparticles and nanopowders, cleaning of asbestos parts and decontamination.
We adapt our nuclear expertise to other areas and modulate the level of security according to the operational risk identified. Our design office offers innovative technical solutions for the evacuation and recycling of waste, the internal cleanability of workstations or the trapping of toxic vapours. Furthermore, our design office can prove concepts guaranteeing static containment and dynamic containment.
WELDING
The TIG welding of certain metals and alloys such as titanium, molybdenum and tantalum must be carried out in specific conditions. This is optimised in a glove box under argon with gas purification and with the moisture and oxygen content in ppm, as well as the guarantee of mechanical resistance to the standards in force, particularly in the field of aeronautics.
We have always been a reference in the field of argon support, as a major supplier of players and contractors in the aerospace sector.
All our glove boxes for welding can be custom designed and come with integrated torches and hermetic passages. Sample welding tests can be carried out upon receipt of the material in our Lyon (France) workshops.
OUR GLOVE BOXES
Suitable for Industries and Additive Manufacturing