3D Printing in Tooling

From being a novelty, 3D Printing has made a name for itself for the many benefits it offers over traditional manufacturing methods. 3D Printing is a very versatile process, and it can be used to create objects from a wide variety of materials. It can be used to create objects with complex geometries that would be difficult or impossible to manufacture using traditional methods as well. Low prototyping cost, faster speed, and customization are some of the main reasons 3D Printers and 3D Printing have gained in popularity in India and the world over.

There are many different types of 3D Printers, but they all work on the same basic principle. The printer uses a computer-aided design (CAD) file to create a digital representation of the object to be printed. The printer then heats up a material, such as plastic or metal, and deposits it layer by layer until the object is complete.

Some of the popular 3D Printing technologies include:

• Stereolithography (SLA): SLA is a process that uses a laser to cure liquid resin into a solid object. SLA is a good choice for creating high-resolution objects with smooth surfaces.
• Fused Deposition Modelling (FDM): FDM is a process that uses a heated nozzle to extrude melted plastic onto a build platform. FDM is a good choice for creating objects with large build volumes and relatively low cost.
• Digital Light Processing (DLP): DLP is a process that uses a projector to cure liquid resin into a solid object. DLP is similar to SLA, but it can cure the resin more quickly.

Each technology has its pros and cons. For example, if you need to create a high-resolution object with smooth surfaces, SLA may be the best choice. And if you need to create an object with a large build volume and relatively low cost, FDM may be the best choice.

3D Printing in Tooling
In the context of manufacturing, tooling refers to the equipment used to create parts and components. Tooling can include cutting tools, jigs, fixtures, moulds, dies, and gauges. Tooling is an essential part of the manufacturing process as it allows manufacturers to create parts and components with the desired accuracy, precision, and quality. Tooling can be expensive to develop and produce, but it can save manufacturers money in the long run by reducing the cost of production.3D Printing is becoming increasingly popular for tooling applications, as it offers a number of advantages over traditional tooling methods.

• Reduced costs - 3D Printing can significantly reduce the cost of tooling, especially for low-volume production. This is because 3D Printing eliminates the need for expensive tooling materials and processes, such as machining and casting.
• Increased flexibility - 3D Printing allows for greater flexibility in the design of tooling. This is because 3D Printing can create complex shapes and features that are difficult or impossible to produce with traditional manufacturing methods.
• Shorter lead times - 3D Printing can significantly shorten the lead time for tooling production since it does not require the same lengthy setup and machining processes as traditional manufacturing methods.
• Improved quality - 3D Printing can produce tooling with high levels of precision and accuracy as it is a digital manufacturing process that eliminates the human errors that can occur with traditional manufacturing methods.

Let us now see how 3D Printing is being used today to create tooling for various sectors. For example, it is used in a variety of aerospace applications, including moulds and dies for composite parts like wings and fuselages. This allows manufacturers to create parts with complex geometries that would be difficult or expensive to produce using traditional methods. In the automotive industry, 3D Printing is being used to create tooling for a variety of automotive applications, including jigs and fixtures to hold work pieces in place during manufacturing. This allows manufacturers to improve the accuracy and precision of manufacturing operations. In the heavy engineering sector, 3D Printing is being used to create tooling for a variety of heavy engineering applications, including gauges to measure the dimensions of parts to ensure that they meet specifications. This allows manufacturers to improve the quality of their products.

These are just a few examples of how 3D Printing is being used for tooling in a variety of industries. As the technology continues to develop, 3D Printing is likely to become even more popular for tooling applications and leading 3D printer companies like Stratasys are all set to take advantage of this popularity. Stratasys Printers like Fortus 900mc, J55 Prime, J750 PolyJet, and SAF 310 can be used to create tooling for a variety of applications.

3D Printers can only use a limited number of materials, so it may not be possible to create tooling with the exact properties that are needed. If you do not use high end Printers like those from Stratasys, 3D printed tooling can be less dimensionally accurate. 3D printed tooling may require post-processing as well, such as sanding or painting, to improve its appearance and performance.

Despite these downsides, 3D Printing is a viable option for creating tooling as it can be a cost-effective and efficient way to create custom tooling for small quantities of parts, and it can be used to create tooling with complex geometries that would be difficult or impossible to manufacture with traditional methods. As the number of different tooling materials available for 3D Printing increases, their popularity will also continue to rise.