3D printing in toolmaking: efficiency and precision

The use of 3D printing technologies in toolmaking offers significant time and cost benefits. It is important to select the appropriate additive manufacturing process and the optimum metal powder.

Toolmaking involves the manufacture of tools and components that are typically used to create geometric shapes using processes such as injection molding, various casting methods, machining, stamping, extrusion and joining. Common machine tools include holders, clamping devices, gauges, casting and pressing molds, cutting devices and templates. As tool components are often manufactured in small batches, production costs can rise quickly.

It is essential for manufacturers to use tools made of the right material in the right quality. Additive manufacturing makes it possible to design moulding tools with internal cooling channels or to optimize the coolant supply for cutting tools, resulting in lower manufacturing costs and higher productivity.

The production of tools is traditionally a time-consuming and costly process, primarily due to the complex geometries, the high demands on precision and surface quality and the use of hard and wear-resistant materials. These requirements place high demands on qualified personnel and technical equipment. The use of 3D printing in-house enables faster and more cost-efficient tool production. Using metal 3D printing for your tools means faster availability, increased productivity and improved functionality. The clear advantage of faster delivery should not be underestimated.