The BuildUp | Can DED Fast-Track Large Injection Molds?

The metal AM method generally used for injection mold tooling is laser powder bed fusion. VIEW THIS EMAIL IN BROWSER   The BuildUp How additive manufacturing is transforming production Can DED Fast-Track Large Injection Molds? By Peter Zelinski, Editor-in-Chief   The metal AM method generally used for injection mold tooling is laser powder bed fusion. LPBF can make mold inserts with conformal cooling to address localized heat transfer challenges affecting the speed of molding. But what about big mold sections or entire molds? Truck maker Daimler is searching for a solution to speed lead time for larger injection mold tooling for truck components. It worked with the Oregon Manufacturing Innovation Center to apply wire-arc DED to moldmaking. The result: This core and cavity set for a larger mold was made complete within 3 days. (And it also has conformal cooling throughout the mold. Lead time was the goal in this case, but conformal cooling was the free bonus.) -------------------- Below: 6 Other AM Moldmaking Modalities   NPE2024: The Plastics Show Sponsored Content With more than 55,000 leaders from over 110 countries representing every industry, NPE is where you can network with the entire plastics ecosystem all in one place. Registration is now open. LEARN MORE   How Machine Shops Can Get into Additive Manufacturing Sponsored Content SolidCAM's partnership with Desktop Metal is aimed at making additive manufacturing more accessible to job shops and other manufacturers. Read More   Resolution: High Versus Low   When does it make sense to opt for a high- or low-resolution print? This example illustrates the difference. WEBINAR Ceramic 3D Printing: The Most Durable Material Meets AM October 17, 11:00 AM REGISTER HERE   WEBINAR Why Transfer of Resin Matters in Additive Manufacturing November 02, 2:00 PM REGISTER HERE   6 Other AM Moldmaking Modalities   By Peter Zelinski, Editor-in-Chief   The piece above mentions wire-arc additive manufacturing as a 3D printing modality for making mold tooling. Here are others: 1. Laser powder bed fusion, of course; it offers the proven way to 3D print mold steel to deliver conformal cooling to key areas of the mold using drop-in inserts.   2. Metal paste 3D printing of molds via the TrueShape process offers a way to reduce both lead time and the demand on skilled toolmakers.   3. Digital light processing (DLP) might not seem like a moldmaking method, but inserts made this way, backed by metal, create effective injection molds for shoes and blow molds for bottles.   4. Polymer extrusion has a role in moldmaking, particularly high-temperature polymer extrusion for autoclave molds.   5. Bound metal deposition in which extruded polymer carries the metal, here called “composite extrusion molding,” has proven capable of making tooling for metal injection molding (MIM).   6. Mold tooling of a sort figures into metal casting as well. This digital casting process uses binder jetting to create the ceramic mold enabling single-day turnaround on cast parts.     LATEST | MAGAZINE | AM RADIO | THE COOL PARTS SHOW | NEW TO AM? Gardner Business Media 6915 Valley Avenue, Cincinnati, OH 45244 800-950-8020 gardnerweb.com Subscribe to Additive Manufacturing magazine Your privacy is important to Gardner Business Media, Inc. (GBM). Please review GBM's online Privacy Policy. Trademarks: All trademarks and logos represented in this marketing message are the property of their respective owners. © 2023 Gardner Business Media, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Unsubscribe Follow Us