To make one requires many — at least in traditional tool and die printing. The process of making tools is difficult. It’s expensive and often tedious because of the complex part requirements. Sometimes, multiple intricate parts are required to make a single tool. This is changing, however. In-house 3D printing is making it easier to print tools cheaper and on-demand.
How does 3D printing work?
3D printers don’t differ dramatically from inkjet printers connected to computers. The 3D printer builds a model one layer at a time, bottom upward, by repeatedly printing over the same area. After several hours, there are enough layers to turn a 3D drawing into an actual part. The part is made of layers of molten plastic or powder, fused together with adhesive or ultraviolet light.
Time savings
With previous molds, it could take days to build tools. Liquid materials required significant drying time. The decrease in wait time for molds improves supply chain. New parts can be prototyped within the same day. Moreover, if a tool is broken it can be replaced significantly quicker than before.
With computer aided design, the complete history of a tool is also easily available. Parts or papers don’t need to be stored. Design files can be saved electronically within software programs.
Be careful of quality
Manufacturers should be careful when selecting a 3D printer. The product can vary greatly in price and quality. Generally, lower price equates to rougher imagery. With lower quality printers, the choice of materials or colors is limited, and the texture may not reflect the intended finish of the product. In this case, 3D print models may be better suited for early visualizations of tools or products.
Overall cost savings
Regardless of quality, the utilization of 3D printing during any step of the tooling process can save money. Less drying time means products can move through the supply chain more rapidly; enabling product enhancements and overall volume to increase. Moreover, inexpensive 3D printing during early development eliminates the cost for high-quality molds. Funding is only used once the tool is finalized.
Be on the lookout for 3D tool and die printing in future manufacturing facilities! When your organization is ready to purchase and install its own 3D printer, be sure to contact your Amerisure agent to organize cost, scheduling and delivery.
