MMT Chats: Additive Manufacturing Is a Movement within Moldmaking

I rejoin this duo from Action Mold & Machining in Grand Rapids, Michigan, to get an update on what they are working on and what they are hearing about additive manufacturing within moldmaking since we last connected. 

Here are just a few tidbits from my conversation with Additive Manufacturing Manager Greg Nemecek and AM Specialist/CMM Technician Zachary Glascock to whet your appetite for our full conversation:

1. AM is for retrofitting old tools not just for new tools
2. The current challenge with AM is still changing mindsets. Amolder says, “the mold is not my problem.” but the reality is that “It is your problem when you put it in the press.” Cycle times!
3. Overseas tooling opportunity (localize moldmaking with conformal cooling instead of using overseas tooling)
4. More conversations and developments in metal AM
5. Innovative technology involves process slicing
6. Truly designing for AM means building the program upfront additively; Action is doing a test of this on an old AM insert that was design with a traditional mindset.
7. Action is offering its own product line of patented vented pins (^th tip only)
8. Sensors in AM tooling to measure pressure, flow, gas pressure as it flows through to have a longer, better-running mold is a recent trend.

For the full quick chat, watch above, and for more MMT Chats, click here

This episode is brought to you by ISCAR with New Ideas for Machining Intelligently.