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Advantages of Additive Manufacturing for Tooling

With metal AM technology, molds for thermoplastic, rubber or die cast as well as hot stamping tools with shaped cooling channels can be manufactured. SLM® technology reduces the cycle time up to 75% and creates higher product quality of the parts manufactured with the molds; production efficiency is improved. Metal printed fixtures and gauges with customized design enhance production line for higher productivity and safety assembly.

Expert applications support from SLM Solutions aids in developing components optimized for selective laser melting, from prototype to production

Selective Laser Melting Solutions for Tooling

  • Molds

    With metal AM technology, molds for thermoplastic, rubber or die cast as well as hot stamping tools with shaped cooling channels can be manufactured rapidly. SLM® technology reduces the cycle time up to 75% and creates higher product quality of the parts manufactured with the molds; production efficiency is improved. Metal printed fixtures and gauges with customized design enhance production line for higher productivity and safety assembly. 

  • Tire Mold Segments

    Tire mold industry is using the design freedom of metal AM technology to improve the functionality of tires. Mold blades or complete mold inserts out of metal AM reduce time to market dramatically. 

Success Story

Die-Casting Mold Insert with Conformal Cooling

Machine: SLM®280
Material: 1.2709
Layer Thickness: 40µm
Build Time: 1d 7h 

For it`s inserts of the die-casting FGS (Frech Gating System), the Oskar Frech GmbH additive manufacturing trusts on additive manufacturing. Tempering channels for heating and cooling directly printed withing the inserts, allowed a reduction of the cooling time from 12 down to just 5 seconds. A reduction of nearly 60 %! 


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Success Story

Y-Connector for a robotic sander from Etteplan

Build On: SLM®280 Twin
Material: AlSi10Mg
Layer Thickness: 60µm
Build Time: 2d8h11min (full load, 120 pieces),

Etteplan was tasked with redesigning the y-connector of robotic sander‘s dust extraction channel, optimizing it for additive manufacturing (AM). The design update and parameter optimization lead to significant cost reduction of 40 % savings through DfAM and a nested build orientation. 

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Success Story

Cross-Jet Unit to protect welding lens from spatter from Fronius

Machine: SLM®280
Material: AlSi10Mg,
Layer Thickness: 60µm
Build Time: 20h (full load, 10 pieces)

The heart of the welding process is the hybrid welding head with both an integrated GMA welding torch and laser optics. Fronius uses a cross-jet unit to protect the laser optics from contamination during the welding process. Using SLM® technology the company combined 18 individual components into one and increased flow performance while reducing weight and costs. 

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Success Story

Single Piece Extrusion Tool, generative manufacturing processes at MonaLab GmbH

Machine: SLM®280
Material: AlSi10Mg,
Layer Thickness: 30µm
Build Time: 1d 6h (full load 2 pieces)

In the extrusion of technical hoses, the melt at the end of the extruder is pressed through the tool to create a homogeneous mass and shape, making internal features essential for quality of the final product. Thanks to SLM® technology‘s ability to integrate internal features into a reduced assembly the production efficiencyof this extrustion tool was considerably improved. 

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Recommended SLM® Machine For Tooling

SLM®280 Production Series

The SLM®280 Production Series provides a patented, enhanced gas flow that creates a clean process environment and increase build quality. A permanent filter module additionally increases machine uptime and safety. Powder transport, sieving and storage is contained within an inert gas atmosphere to maintain material quality.

More About SLM®280

SLM®280 2.0

SLM®280 2.0 offers excellent material flexibility and easy material changeovers. Combined with SLM Solutions’ multi-laser technology and bi-directional recoating the machine is optimal suited for prototyping. Once prototyping is finished the project can be easily transferred to other SLM® machines like the SLM®500 or SLM®280 PS for serial production. 

More About SLM®280

 

SLM® Materials for Tooling Applications

SLM Solutions offers a wide range of qualified metal powders for use on our selective laser melting systems. All materials provided by SLM Solutions are qualified for their chemistry, spherical structure, particle size distribution, dryness and flowability.

 

  • Fe-Based Alloys: 316L (1.4404), 1.2709, H13 (1.2344)
  • Co-Based Alloys: CuNi2SiCr

 

More SLM® Materials