As part of their ambitious AM Tooling study, AddUp and WBA Aachener Werkzeugbau Akademie have demonstrated the success of Metal AM in mold making. This consortium study, launched in January 2023, delivered impressive prototypes of injection molds equipped with optimized internal cooling channels.
The Aachen-based AM Tooling Competence Centre, a collaboration between global metal additive manufacturing OEM AddUp and WBA, serves as a platform for moldmakers to discover and leverage the possibilities of PBF technology. Equipped with a state-of-the-art FormUp 350 PBF machine, the center of excellence offers insights into the entire process chain – from the design phase to final production.
Six well-known companies were selected for the AM Tooling study, including Pöppelmann and Siebenwurst. Supported by experts from iQTemp, Deutsche Edelstahlwerke and the Fraunhofer Institute, these companies were able to fully exploit the advantages of AM technology for their specific applications.
A key focus was on optimizing the cooling channels in injection molds. PBF technology makes it possible to position these channels exactly where they are most effective, which shortens cooling times and thus increases productivity. In addition, AddUp offers deep expertise in material selection, which is critical for moldmakers to achieve the best results.
The results of this study will be presented at the WBA annual meeting at the end of 2023. For those who want to learn more about the potential of 3D printing in toolmaking, AddUp will offer another opportunity to participate in a follow-up study in September.
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