A smarter approach to injection mould tooling

Traditional injection mould tooling can involve significant costs and lengthy manufacturing lead times. While conventional tooling remains essential for high-volume production, it isn’t always the most practical solution for prototyping, design validation or smaller production runs.

Industrial 3D printing offers an alternative.

Advances in additive manufacturing now make it possible to produce accurate, detailed tooling and mould inserts using specialist materials and technologies. This gives manufacturers greater flexibility, helping to reduce development times and explore designs before committing to expensive traditional tooling.

What makes 3D printed mould tools different?

Modern industrial 3D printing offers several advantages for tooling applications:

• Accuracy and detail: Advanced printing technologies produce intricate geometries and fine details to meet demanding application requirements.
• Material performance: Specialist engineering polymers and metals offer the strength, durability and thermal properties needed for a range of tooling applications.
• Design flexibility: Complex features, including conformal cooling channels, can be incorporated into designs that may be difficult or costly to manufacture conventionally.
• Reduced lead times: Producing tooling directly from digital design files can help accelerate development and reduce waiting times.

The right technology and material will depend on the intended application, operating conditions and expected production volumes.

Why outsource your 3D printing?

Investing in industrial 3D printing equipment isn’t always practical. Machine costs, materials, maintenance and specialist expertise all need to be considered.

Working with a professional 3D printing service gives you access to advanced manufacturing technologies without the overheads of owning and operating your own equipment.

At 3D Print Bureau, we offer a range of industrial 3D printing processes, including Digital Light Processing (DLP), Metal Powder Bed Fusion (PBF), FDM and PolyJet.

Our team can help identify the most suitable technology and materials for your project, whether you’re producing injection mould inserts, manufacturing aids, functional prototypes or low-volume production parts.

With access to specialist equipment and a wide range of materials, we make it easier to turn your digital designs into high-quality finished components.

Could 3D printing benefit your next project?

3D printing won’t replace traditional steel tooling in every application. However, for suitable tooling, prototyping and low-volume manufacturing requirements, it can offer a faster and more flexible alternative.

At 3D Print Bureau, we help businesses make the most of industrial 3D printing, providing expert advice, material selection and professional manufacturing services from our UK-based facility.

Have a project in mind?

Get in touch with our team to discuss your requirements or upload your design to request a quote.

W: www.3dprintbureau.co.uk
T: 01782 757320
E: contactus@3dpb.co.uk