Direct Injection Molding Tooling Inserts from the SLS Process with Copper Polyamide
نویسندگان
چکیده
The "RapidTool" Short Run (SR) Tooling Process using the Copper Polyamide material provides a route to mold inserts for injection molding made directly in the Selective Laser Sintering machine. The STL files for the mold inserts are shelled and conformal cooling lines and ejector pin guides are added before SLS processing. Sintering of the material in the SLS machine provides quick metal/plastic tooling with good thermal conductivity. Final preparation of the tooling inserts includes sealing the surface with epoxy, final finishing using sandpaper, and backing up the shells with a metal alloy. The Copper Polyamide SR Tooling inserts are used to mold several hundred parts with common plastics with injection cycle times similar to conventional molding cycle times.
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