Traditionally, pultrusion dies have been fabricated using conventional machining. However, rapid tooling techniques permit the construction of complex preform and die cross-sections, which may be used to pultrude interlocking, fastenerless joint designs. For rapid construction of naval structures, like ship deckhouses, 3-D printing a rapid prototyping technique was utilized to develop a new snap fit joint pultrusion die. 3-D printing required approximately 115 man-hours less than conventional machining. Furthermore, an innovative and cost effective multi-modular die has been developed and implemented in manufacturing a snap fit joint for scale ship deck houses.
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