Additive Manufacturing Solutions for Tooling
Selective Laser Melting is increasingly used in the tooling industry. Advantages like the newly gained freedom of design through additive manufacturing is used to produce complete tools or tool inserts. One main area of application is the integration of conformal cooling channels that make it possible to shorten cycle times of part manufacturing, minimize stress loads in the components, and extend the tool life. In addition, tools or inserts can be built with various material properties. These specifications can be integrated for targeted surface hardness or damping properties of the core, for example.
Expert applications support from Nikon SLM Solutions aids in developing components optimized for selective laser melting, from prototype to production.
“Nikon SLM Solutions is a powerful, long-term strategic partner for Divergent 3D, working with us to provide 3D metal printing hardware and software specific to the Divergent Adaptive Production System™. We believe that this will transform the way vehicle structures are designed, engineered, manufactured and assembled.”
– KEVIN CZINGER, CEO AT DIVERGENT
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 industry is using the design freedom of metal AM technology to improve the functionality of tires. 3D printed mold blades or complete mold inserts reduce time to market dramatically.
