AddUp assessing the suitability of steel AM for six tooling firms

Metallic additive manufacturing agency AddUp has introduced it’s taking part in a examine which is exploring the adoption of 3D printing for six tooling firms.

The examine will assess the suitability of steel additive manufacturing for the making of moulds for six tooling parts. AddUp is conducting the examine in partnership with WBA Aachener Werkzeugbau Akademie, who will publish the outcomes throughout its Common Meeting within the fourth quarter of 2023.

The 2 organisations initially got here collectively in early 2023 as AddUp established its AM Tooling Competence Centre in Aachen (additionally its German subsidiary) to speed up the adoption of steel additive manufacturing by tooling firms.

Pöppelmann, Siebenwurst, Harting, Zahoransky, GIRA and FRAMAS have every recognized an software, with AddUp growing preliminary prototypes of injection moulds with optimised cooling channels. These moulds will see their design and profitability analysed, with AddUp hoping to show out their suitability for sequence manufacturing.

The functions being assessed are:

• Door deal with slider mould | Automotive trade | Siebenwurst
• Pipettes moulds | Medical trade | Zahoransky
• Sockets moulded inserts | Power Business | GIRA
• Excessive voltage plug cap inside and outside inserts | Power trade | Pöppelmann
• Connector seal mould inserts and stress plate | Power trade | Harting
• Soccer shoe mould | Client items | Framas

Working with every of those firms, AddUp has evaluated how the functions could possibly be optimised with AM, earlier than growing a design match for its laser powder mattress fusion course of. The elements have been constructed with AddUp’s four-laser FormUp 350 machine, with post-processing carried out by the respective tooling firm or the WBA. Every mould was then sampled on the tooling firm’s manufacturing traces, with comparative information being supplied to the WBA. Outcomes will likely be revealed earlier than the tip of the 12 months.

The examine has been supported by iQTemp (AM design and simulation of cooling channels), Deutsche Edelstahlwerke (AM supplies), 3D Laser BW (AM service supplier with experience in mould inserts with near-contour cooling techniques), and Siemens NX, Fraunhofer ILT, ACAM.