17.01.2020

Mit additiver Fertigung zu mehr Produktivität - Glockenwerkzeug zur Außenbearbeitung von MAPAL

A cut of the bell tool. Inside, the honeycomb structure of the tool area, which is 3D printed.
  • A cut of the bell tool. Inside, the honeycomb structure of the tool area, which is 3D printed.

Thanks to lower weight to significantly higher cutting data

If the weight of PCD tools is reduced, as a rule significantly higher cutting data can be used. Along with design freedom, the possibility of weight optimisation is one of the crucial advantages offered by 3D printing. Due to the specially developed structures inside the tool, which cannot be manufactured conventionally, the weight can be reduced significantly.

New bell tool with low weight, long tool life and best cutting data

An example of how MAPAL uses this advantage of 3D printing in practice is the new bell tools with brazed PCD inserts. Bell tools are used for the external machining of hose connections, among other applications. These connections, for example on turbochargers, must satisfy complex contour requirements. Manufacturing must be correspondingly precise. Existing processes are also subject to continuous improvement so that manufacturing is cost-effective and reliable in series production.

MAPAL has therefore optimised the existing, conventionally manufactured bell tool. Using the selective laser melting process, the inside of the tool has been modified – instead of solid material there is now a specially designed honeycomb structure. As a consequence, the tool is 30 percent lighter and the tool life is increased by approx. 40 percent due to the damping effect. It is therefore possible to machine faster; the machining quality remains at the same high level. In total the machining time has been reduced by 50 percent. 

A cut of the bell tool. Inside, the honeycomb structure of the tool area, which is 3D printed.
The honeycomb structure inside can be realised thanks to additive manufacturing. 

The manufacturing process of the bell tool

Das neue Glockenwerkzeug fertigt der Werkzeughersteller im hybriden Verfahren. Per 3D-Druck bringt die Laserschmelzanlage die neue Werkzeuggeometrie auf einen hochpräzisen, konventionell gefertigten Grundkörper mit einer HSK-63-Schnittstelle auf. Den additiv gefertigten Teil bearbeiten die Mitarbeiter von MAPAL konventionell nach. Anschließend löten sie die PKD-Schneiden auf und bringen sie per Laser in Form.

Kathrin Rehor, PR Project Manager bei MAPAL

Kontakt

Kathrin Rehor Public Relations Kathrin.Rehor@mapal.com Tel.: +49 7361 585 3342


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