3D Printing Molds With Metal Paste: The Mantle Process Explained

Mantle has a 3D printing process focused on making injection mold tooling. The company recently began shipping production versions of its system to molders and moldmakers. The unusual process, which the company calls “TrueShape,” starts with a metal paste. Injection mold cores and cavities are 3D printed from this material and the form is shaped to precision via CNC machining. The full hardness of the tool is then realized in a controlled sintering operation that is also part of the company’s process. The result is tooling in H13 or P20 tool steel that is ready for production-scale injection molding, but obtained with fewer steps and in less time compared to conventional moldmaking. Peter Zelinski visited Mantle’s facility in California, and gives this explanation of the steps in the process.

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