In Additive Manufacturing with laser-based powder bedding processes, companies are advised to operate in a low-dust mode. This is recommended by the Bundesanstalt für Arbeitsschutz und Arbeitsmedizin (BAuA) report, which the Safety Technology Group of the Laser Zentrum Hannover e.V. (LZH) helped to prepare. LZH’s scientists were involved in the preparation of the report, particularly in the context of conducting exposure studies. For the report, personal and stationary workplace measurements were carried out in ten plants at facilities with metal and plastic powders. The occupational exposure limits for the alveolar dust fraction were exceeded in isolated cases when powders were worked with openly. Therefore, the report recommends avoiding open pouring operations and wearing filtering respiratory protection during maintenance work on the open plants. The plants should be equipped as standard with integrated powder supply and extraction, and with glove boxes.

More information:

baua: Report "Determination of hazardous substances exposure during "Additive Manufacturing" - Application of powder-based systems"; Jürgen Walter, Michael Hustedt, Stefan Kaierle, Ulrich Prott, Anja Baumgärtel, Anita Woznica, Ralph Hebisch; Bundesanstalt für Arbeitsschutz und Arbeitsmedizin 2021; 117 pages; doi:10.21934/baua:bericht20210121.

The report is available in PDF format on the website of the BAuA at https://www.baua.de/EN/Service/Publications/Report/F2410.html .