DIRECT METAL LASER SINTERING, USING CONFORMAL COOLING, FOR HIGH VOLUME PRODUCTION TOOLING

• Published in: South African journal of industrial engineering Vol. 28; no. 4; pp. 170 - 182
• Main Authors: van As, B, Combrinck, J, Booysen, G J, de Beer, D J
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Bedfordview South African Institute for Industrial Engineering 01-12-2017; The Southern African Institute for Industrial Engineering; Stellenbosch University
• Subjects: Additive manufacturing; CAD; Channels; Computer aided design; Computer simulation; conformal cooling; Cooling; Design optimization; Engineering, Industrial; finite element analysis; Finite element method; Heat sinks; Injection molding; injection moulding; Inserts; Laser cooling; Laser sintering; Maraging steels; Molding (process); Molds; Product development; Production costs; Rapid prototyping; rapid tooling; Tool steels; Tooling; South Africa
• ISSN: 1012-277X; 2224-7890; 2224-7890
• DOI: 10.7166/28-4-1470

Existing techniques to manufacture conventional tool steel inserts for the plastic injection moulding process are expensive and time-consuming. Complex mould inserts, difficult to manufacture with conventional processes, can be produced using Direct Metal Laser Sintering (DMLS) with Maraging tool steel (MS1). MS1 is an additive manufacturing (AM) material made available by Electro Optical Systems (EOS) GmbH. Contrary to material removal processes, DMLS can produce MS1 tool steel inserts directly from Computer-Aided Design (CAD) files suitable for high volume plastic injection moulding. Through DMLS it is possible to create conformal cooling channels inside the MS1 inserts that have advantages in reducing heat rapidly and evenly. This can result in a reduction of cycle times, cost per product as well as improving part quality by eliminating defects such as warpage and heat sinks. This paper will present a comparison between Finite Element Analysis (FEA) simulations of the injection mould inserts with actual mould trails of AM and conventional manufactured inserts. It also includes the design and manufacturing of conventional and DMLS inserts and compares the manufacturing costs and lead times. Using FEA simulations, the design of conformal cooling channels is optimised by comparing the mould temperature of different cooling channel layouts.