How to Improve 3D-Printed Conformal-Cooled Mold Insert Performance

摘要

3D-printed molds with conformal cooling channels yield more efficient heat transfer, but the geometrically intricate channels may increase the likelihood of scaling. Scaling decreases flow and worsens the integrity of the cooling channel walls, which leads to leaking. Maintenance solutions for eliminating scaling and corrosion range from cooling channels flushing with aggressive cleaning media that can damage the mold, to gentler ultrasonic cleaning that may be ineffective. Shops also opt to fix leaking cooling channels, which has high costs and downtime, and, in many cases, is not possible.