Printing The Way Through Innovation

The Erofio Group recently 3D printed its first mold core using a GE Additive Concept Laser M Line system. The Machinist takes a closer look at this successful trial

- Kruti Bharadva

GE Additive is a leader in metal additive design and manufacturing, a pioneering process that has the power and potential to transform businesses. Through their integrated offering of additive experts, advanced machines, and quality powders, the company empowers its customers to build innovative new products- products that solve manufacturing challenges, improve business outcomes and help change the world for the better. GE Additive includes additive machine brands Concept Laser and Arcam EBM, along with additive powder supplier AP&C.

An industrial molding sector company and long-standing user of GE Additive’s DMLM laser technology was recently selected to test and put the GE Additive Concept Laser M Line through its paces, ahead of its commercial readiness later this year. Less than three months since receiving and installing an M Line system at its 6,500m2 mold making facility in Batalha, central Portugal, a team led by EROFIO Group’s metal additive manufacturing leader, Luís Santos has successfully 3D Printed its first mold core.

The core was manufactured using M300 hot work tool steel – a material often used for the production of injection molding and die-casting tool inserts with conformal cooling, as well as functional components. The core contains more than eight independent, internal conformal cooling channels, stretching over eight meters in length and between five to eight millimetres in diameter.