Posted to News on 11th Feb 2020, 12:50
igus streamlines injection moulding using 3D printed tools
Many designers in the industrial sector rely on wear-resistant, high-performance plastic parts for use wherever there is friction between two surfaces. To ensure they get their special plastic part, igus has integrated its Print2Mould process with its online 3D printing service. With a printed tool, the component is manufactured by injection moulding, which gives multiple benefits compared with 3D printing parts directly.
To use the service, a designer simply uploads the STEP file of the part into the 3D printing service (www.igus.co.uk/iglidur-designer), selects the material and requests a quotation. Specifications on the material properties as well as the precision, flexural strength and the price help with the choice.
The main advantage of using this combined service is that the designer can select from any of the 55 iglidur materials. These include the FDA-compliant materials iglidur A350 and A181 for use in the food industry, iglidur L500 for the automotive sector, and iglidur X for high-temperature applications. In addition to the materials used in the Print2Mould process, the designer has the opportunity to print their part using the SLS process in iglidur I3 or iglidur I6 or using the FDM process with iglidur filaments.
The price for production, including the costs for the injection moulding tool as well as information about the material, precision and flexural strength, is shown online. After selecting the appropriate material, the designer can enter the quantity and directly request a quotation from igus. The injection-moulded special solutions are delivered after 10 working days.
For more information about the online 3D printing service, go to www.igus.co.uk/iglidur-designer.
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