For several years, 3D printing technology provider Mantle and mold shop Westminster Tool have been working together to explore opportunities for Mantle’s 3D printing process in moldmaking. The two companies recently partnered with Foster Corp. on a case study that focused on rapid prototyping for the medical industry. I caught up with Westminster Tool’s marketing manager, Hannah Coombs, at PTXPO, where she explained how the Westminster and Mantle teams were able to go from design to parts in three weeks, as well as how 3D printing helped the shop mold the medical-grade forceps from a challenging glass-filled bio resin, and how Westminster plans to use Mantle’s 3D printing technology in the future.
Related Content
-
Complete Speaker Lineup Announced for the 3D Printing Workshop at NPE2024: The Plastics Show
Presentations will cover 3D printing for mold tooling, material innovation, product development, bridge production and full-scale, high-volume additive manufacturing.
-
Foundry Lab: How Casting in a Day Will Improve the Design of Metal Parts (Includes Video)
The company’s digital casting process uses 3D printing, but the result is a cast part. By providing a casting faster than a foundry, the company says effective prototyping is now possible for cast parts, as well as bridge production.
-
In "Hybrid" FIM Process, 3D Printing Complements Injection Molding
In a recent case study, Alpine Advanced Materials partnered with Nexa3D to produce 3D printed tooling for injection molded composites. Utilizing Nexa3D’s XiP desktop 3D printer and its Freeform Injection Molding process, Alpine was able to reduce prototype tooling production time and cost alike for its customers.
