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Safety is a critical requirement for additive manufacturing. As with any process that uses large quantities of powder, the risk of explosion must be continually controlled. The Ntron SILO2 oxygen analyser was specifically designed to address the market requirements for a low cost SIL2 oxygen measurement for inertisation applications within additive manufacturing.
The SILO2 Oxygen Analyser utilises two continuous self-monitoring microprocessors and the complete system (analyser and sensor) meets the requirements of IEC 61508 SIL2. The SILO2 analyser is designed for safe area installation with a single input intrinsically safe connection for a variety of hazardous area located ATEX certified Ntron oxygen sensors, via an integral galvanic isolation barrier.
The analyser incorporates an easy to read LCD display of oxygen concentration. Calibration of the analyser/ sensor combination is made easy via the user accessible span push buttons. The analyser offers the user an analogue output 4-20 mA RS232 / RS485 and 3 configurable alarm relays.
Ntron employs zirconia technology which has been developed specifically for harsh process applications and is ideally suited for additive manufacturing and enables measurements from 1 PPM up to 25% Oxygen.
Irish manufacturer, Ntron Gas Measurement Ltd, has over 30 years’ experience in providing oxygen measurements for industrial processes – including additive manufacturing. Although additive manufacturing is a relatively new process, the company has built successful relationships with several 3D printer manufacturers within the industry for both plastic laser sintering and direct metal laser sintering systems.
David Beirne, Ntron Sales Manager, explains their early success in the new industry, ‘We have the ability to supply either in-line oxygen transmitters or extractive oxygen measurement systems designed to maintain an inert environment for product quality and process safety applications. Our success is based on supplying reliable and fail-safe oxygen measurement on harsh applications within the AM industry.’ |
