3D-Printed Tooling Platform Ramps Up Injection Molding Tooling Capabilities

Injection mold tooling investments are formidable barriers in many development projects. In a novel collaboration, companies Nexa3D and Addifab have teamed up to provide faster, cheaper and greener injection mold tooling via a novel 3D-printed injection mold tooling platform.

Addifab is the inventor of Freeform Injection Molding (FIM), 3D-printed soluble tooling that is said to brings new design freedom to injection molders. Nexa3D is a U.S. manufacturer of high-performance 3D printers for industrial applications. Through this collaboration, Nexa3D will supply its NXE 400 system, including the industrial 3D printer as well as wash and cure units, to users of FIM, while Addifab will supply its proprietary tooling resins and post-processing equipment.

The combined solution enables injection molders to additively manufacture complex injection mold tooling in hours rather than weeks or months. Most thermoplastic materials, including reinforced high-performance feedstocks, are compatible with these tools. The 3D-printed tool elements are reported to work seamlessly with conventional metal tooling to bring down costs of complexity and mold complex components that would be difficult to mold with metal tooling alone. Moreover, Nexa3D’s printers aid in increasing productivity, the ability to manage larger parts and reduce substantial waste.