Solukon releases SPR-Pathfinder PRO for high-complexity LPBF depowdering
New software version adds higher simulation resolution, cross-sectional inspection, and process-time prediction for industrial metal AM post-processing
Solukon has released SPR-Pathfinder PRO, a substantially upgraded version of its depowdering simulation software for laser powder bed fusion parts. The release targets manufacturers producing high-complexity metal components — including thermal management parts and multi-channel aerospace structures — where existing simulation tools have reached their limits.
The PRO version delivers a significant increase in simulation resolution over the standard edition, supporting a claimed 20-fold rise in particle count alongside the removal of the previous voxel ceiling. The result is the ability to compute powder removal paths through sub-millimeter channels and densely packed internal surfaces that were previously outside the reach of automated simulation.
During simulation, the part moves in the same sequence it will follow inside the Solukon depowdering machine, giving operators a direct visual reference for the physical process.
Andreas Hartmann, CEO and CTO of Solukon, stated: “At Solukon, we have always believed that reliable and intelligent automated depowdering can be achieved when machine, process, and software are aligned. The parts our customers print today are more complex than ever, and we have grown alongside that ambition. SPR-Pathfinder PRO reflects years of listening to the market and advancing our software in step with the most demanding AM applications: parts with sub-millimeter channels, densely packed internal surfaces, and geometries previously inaccessible.”
Cross-sectional visibility and production scheduling
Two additional capabilities round out the PRO release. Cross-sectional inspection now covers all X, Y, and Z planes, with adjustable part transparency, allowing engineers to locate powder traps and flow bottlenecks before production begins.
The software also introduces accurate process-time prediction, giving operators a concrete figure for how long both the simulation calculation and the physical depowdering cycle will take — information that has historically been an unknown variable in production scheduling.
“SPR-Pathfinder PRO is the result of working closely with operators who push LPBF to its limits every day,” said Hemank Raj, Product Owner of SPR-Pathfinder at Solukon. “The standard version already removes the guesswork from depowdering program creation. With PRO, we go further: users can now look inside the most complex geometries, predict process time with confidence, and validate depowderability before the first layer is printed.
“That changes how engineers think about postprocessing from the very start of a project.”
Alongside the PRO launch, Solukon also introduced SPR-Pathfinder BASIC, a lower-cost entry point for operators working with parts of moderate complexity who do not require advanced simulation depth.
Both versions are compatible with Solukon’s SFM-AT350, SFM-AT800-S, SFM-AT1000-S, and SFM-AT1500-S depowdering systems and run on standard Windows hardware.
