St. Paul, MN (September 27, 2019) — Matsuura will showcase its metal laser sintering/hybrid milling technology at the Canadian Manufacturing Technology Show September 30-October 3, 2019 in Ontario.
Elliott Matsuura will exhibit Matsuura machines in three booths at CMTS: 2360; 2148; and 2161.
Since the introduction of the Matsuura LUMEX, this unique machine tool is already having a dramatic impact on the moldmaking industry.
As with other metal powder bed 3D-printing technologies, the Matsuura LUMEX uses a high-power laser to build parts one paper-thin layer at a time, working its way from the bottom up until the workpiece is complete. The LUMEX, however, is also equipped with a 45,000-rpm milling spindle, which is programmed every few layers or so to precisely machine away excess sintered material. The result is a mold (or most any other metal component) that’s every bit as accurate as those produced with traditional methods, but with far fewer design constraints.
“The return on investment is threefold,” said Tom Houle, Director of LUMEX, North America. “Number one, our customers are seeing the value that comes with implementing additive manufacturing technology into their tools. These include conformal cooling channels, porous venting, and virtually no concerns over deep ribs. Secondly, it’s quick-turn manufacturing, which means the ability to build a production tool in days versus weeks or months, with reduced tooling costs. Finally, those toolmakers who are also injection molders are reaping the additional benefits of cycle time savings, thanks to an additively-manufactured mold’s far greater cooling capabilities.”
Houle offers multiple customer case studies, all showing 25% to 45% reductions in cycle time reductions—for one large OEM in the St. Paul area, this adds up to a $5.5M savings over the projected five-year molding life of a multi-part assembly.
Custom Mold & Design is constantly investing in new technologies such as conformal cooling and additive manufacturing.
In October 2018, Custom Mold & Design invested in the Matsuura LUMEX Avance-25 Metal Laser Sintering Hybrid Milling Machine.
“The main use for the LUMEX Avance-25 equipment in our industry is for the creation of conformal cooling inserts instead of using a series of drilled holes,” Jones explains. “This hybrid technology creates hollow areas inside the part, specifically pathways for the coolant to flow along the contour of the part, resulting in even and faster cooling. It reduces cycle time for those who take advantage of this technology.”
3-D cooling channels incorporated into molds on the Matsuura LUMEX Avance-25 increase cooling efficiency and enable high-cycle injection molding with better-than-ever quality and precision, which reduces not only cycle time, but cost as well. “We can see a reduction in cycle times from 10 to 30 percent,” Jones says. “By having the cooling closer to the surface of the mold, we can provide dimensionally stable and accurate parts.”
CMTS is Canada’s national stage for manufacturing technologies, best practices and industry connections. For more than 40 years, the CMTS audience from within Canada’s leading industries including automotive and aerospace have come together to source solutions and knowledge from the global leaders in machine tools and tooling, metalworking, and advanced manufacturing.
CMTS is located at the International Center (Halls 1-4), 6900 Airport Road in Mississauga, Ontario L4V 1E8.
For more information, please contact Elliott Matsuura visit: HERE.
Matsuura Machinery USA, Inc., located in St. Paul, MN is the U.S. subsidiary of Matsuura Machinery Corporation in Japan. Since 1935, Matsuura has been the forerunner in designing innovative technology and manufacturing solutions to a variety of industries around the globe. Matsuura Machinery USA, Inc. delivers unmatched excellence in 5-axis, vertical, horizontal, linear motor, multi-tasking CNC machine tools and machines with a powder bed metal AM platform with machining capability. Matsuura Machinery USA, Inc. provides the service, applications and technical field support that have always been the Matsuura standard for business.
For more information about Matsuura, please contact: [email protected] or visit: www.matsuurausa.com.