More efficient cooling, faster production: Printed tools for components of the highest quality

Additive manufacturing opens up new design possibilities in toolmaking that are difficult or impossible to achieve with conventional processes. Even today, many tool shops still rely on traditional manufacturing methods – often associated with geometric limitations, high tool weight and suboptimal temperature control. The result is longer production times and lower part quality.

With additively manufactured tool inserts, cooling channels can be routed directly along the part geometry – for optimal heat dissipation exactly where it is needed. The result: shorter cycle times, higher part quality and greater design freedom.

Customized manufacturing for inserts and complete molds

Speedpart offers solutions both for individual tool inserts and for complete moldmaking, including injection-molded parts. Tool inserts are manufactured as required in tool steel MS1 (1.2709, unhardened up to 37 HRC, hardened up to 54 HRC) or stainless steel 316L (1.4404, hardness up to 89 HRB). This variety of materials makes it possible to meet specific requirements for load capacity, corrosion resistance and temperature behavior. The additively manufactured inserts are equally suitable for prototype production and series manufacturing. In addition, Speedpart offers hybrid manufacturing solutions in which milled components are selectively combined with additively manufactured elements. This enables targeted optimization of mechanical load capacity and temperature control, as well as flexible adaptation of the tools to specific requirements.

Technical advantages of additive manufacturing in toolmaking

Additive manufacturing opens up new possibilities in toolmaking that significantly increase both design freedom and production quality. Additively manufactured tool inserts make it possible to route cooling channels directly along the part geometry – precisely where heat dissipation is required. Thanks to this conformal cooling, a uniform tool wall temperature is achieved, pressure losses are minimized and even hard-to-reach surfaces can be optimally temperature-controlled. The result is significantly shorter cycle times, higher part quality with improved surface finish and reduced warpage, as well as greater design flexibility thanks to AM-optimized engineering.

Speedpart supplies complete in-house solutions – from individual tool inserts to complete moldmaking, including injection-molded parts. The technical framework conditions of the production are impressive: layer thicknesses of up to 20 μm, wall thicknesses from 0.4 mm and maximum part sizes of 250 × 250 × 320 mm ensure that even the smallest details and functionally relevant structures can be reproduced reliably.

With these technologies, additive toolmaking is positioning itself as a forward-looking solution for efficient, precise and economical production processes – for prototypes as well as small and large series production. For specific project inquiries or more detailed technical information, Speedpart is available as a competent point of contact.

More about Speedpart can be found here.