ExOne has just expanded its tooling portfolio with X1 Tooling, industrial-grade 3D printed tooling solutions. In what the industrial sand and metal 3D printers’ expert describes as the “broadest portfolio of the world”, there are new solutions for plastic injection molding or forming, laying up composites, casting metals, and more.
The announcement follows the acquisition of Freshmade 3D as well as successful testing of new 3D printed metal tooling options with global manufacturing customers.
“Today’s launch of the X1 Tooling portfolio is the direct result of strong customer demand for tooling options that speed up delivery times and bring tooling closer to the point of final production, wherever that is for them,” said John Hartner, ExOne’s CEO.
“As the COVID pandemic has continued disrupting supply chains, we’ve had more and more manufacturers ask us: ‘Can you 3D print tooling?’ Today, we’d like the market to know that the answer is yes — we can help de-risk your supply chains and make them more sustainable, with less shipping and other forms of waste. Our new tooling portfolio is a grand slam of fast and affordable new tooling options for manufacturers.”
Several customers are now using ExOne’s binder jet 3D printed tooling options, including Sweden-based Celwise AB, which is using X1 MetalTool 316L for an innovative molded fiber application.
Six new and affordable tooling applications
For Plastic Production
- X1 MetalTool – This all-new 3D printed metal tooling option has passed preliminary tests to replace standard steel or aluminum tooling for plastic injection molding, blow molding, and other plastic and foam forming applications. X1 MetalTool is available in 420i, a highly durable and affordable steel-bronze matrix, as well as 316L stainless steel, M2 tool steel, and more. This tooling can be finish machined, acid etched and polished to a diamond finish, and is currently ideal for complex inserts. ExOne is currently seeking additional development partners to expand durability testing of this product line.
- X1 ThermoForm – A 3D printed sand form is infiltrated with a durable resin and coated to create small- to large-format molds for a variety of thermoforming applications, such as vacuum forming, compression molds, foam molding, and more.
For Composite Production
- X1 Layup – A 3D printed sand form is infiltrated with a durable resin and coated for high-precision, high-temperature composite layup applications. X1 Layup offers dimensional tolerances of +/- 0.025” and tooling can be precision machined to +/- 0.005” if needed.
- X1 Washout – This 3D printed sacrificial tooling washes out with tap water after traditional layup and autoclaving of composite materials, including carbon fiber. X1 Washout is a sand form 3D printed with a water-soluble binder and surface coated. Ideal for ducting, mandrels and other designs with trapped geometries.
For Metal Production
- X1 SandCast – ExOne is the longtime market leader in selling 3D printers for sand molds and cores for metalcasting. Sandcastings can be delivered in a variety of sand types and binders, including sustainable inorganic formulas for high-quality aluminum castings.
- X1 MetalTool – In addition to plastic forming applications, X1 MetalTool can also be used to directly 3D print end-of-arm tooling, and rugged perishable or consumable cutting tools in a variety of metals, including tool steels.
- X1 DieMold – Still in development, rugged die molds 3D printed in H13 tool steel are currently fast-tracked with several global manufacturers after passing proof of concept tests.
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