Tool making and additive technology exhibition at Formnext
New technologies for manufacturing tools and dies are changing the technological and organizational process chains in the companies in that sector. The Fraunhofer IPT has collaborated with tool and die manufacturing companies in recent years to undertake numerous projects related to this development. The latest project outcomes will be presented from 17 - 20 November 2015 at Formnext in Frankfurt.
The Fraunhofer IPT will be presenting results of relevance to the tool and die manufacturing sector on the basis of numerous exhibits at the joint Fraunhofer booth in Hall 3.
In the VentOpt project (funding reference 02PK2371), a laser was used to create air extractor channels in an injection molding tool. Preliminary results relating to the deployment of the tool under real production conditions are now available and document increased part quality in conjunction with reduced cycle time. The tool will be unveiled for the first time at a fair in November: “We hope to stimulate a dialogue with plastics engineering companies and discuss the results with visitors” says Dr. Kristian Arntz, Head of Department at the Fraunhofer IPT. In addition to the Fraunhofer IPT, the companies FKT Formenbau und Kunststofftechnik GmbH in Triptis, Komos GmbH in Bürgel and Simcon GmbH in Würselen are taking part in the project.
Numerous projects have been undertaken in recent years in collaboration with GF Machining Solutions (previously GF AgieCharmilles) with the aim of optimizing the die-sinking process within the framework of the “Electrical Discharge Machining” industrial working group. Efforts focused on achieving increased surface quality in conjunction with reduced electrode wear and shorter machining time. “In one sub-project last year, the deployment of bronze infiltrated graphite electrodes in cemented carbide machining operations was evaluated” reports Dr. Andreas Klink from the WZL of the RWTH Aachen.