Press release no. 2014-06-05_4 Date: 08.02.2016 3D laser sintering: First series-production applications in the tool sector The possibilities of additive production are seemingly infinite. In the current hype surrounding the new technology, researchers and developers are looking for potential fields of application for the use of 3D printers. As one of the first manufacturers of precision tools, MAPAL invested in a 3D printer in 2013 in order to pioneer new ways of producing tools by means of laser sintering. The first project has now been brought to series-production maturity: The indexable insert drill QTD (patent pending) for the diameter range below 13 mm. The technology of laser sintering offers manufacturers of precision tools large degrees of design freedom. Within the space of the laser printer, tool geometries can be created unhindered by machine clamps, tools and production means. A broad and continually expanding range of materials is also available for the laser sintering process. MAPAL has therefore tried to produce tools by laser sintering that cannot or cannot optimally be produced by conventional means. One example are small diameters of the indexable insert drill QTD originally brought to the market in 2013. Optimum cooling channel design possible using laser sintering The QTD has been available as standard from 13 mm diameter. Responsible for this is among other facts the cooling duct in the basic tool body. Normally in tool bodies with constant helical pitch for insert drills, the coolant is fed centrally to the front where it is then distributed to the inserts via a Y-fork. The smaller the tool body, the more this coolant supply system impairs the performance of the tool, because the central coolant supply weakens the core of the drill and makes it unstable. Furthermore, the coolant channels have to be made increasingly smaller. This results in a decreasing flow rate of the coolant to the insert at the front. Steel tool bodies with the spiral cooling ducts that are common in solid carbide tools are not yet common in small diameters. Page(s) 1 of 2 Press release no. 2014-06-05_4 Date: 08.02.2016 The use of laser sintering for the production of the tool body opens up new degrees of geometric freedom. Tool bodies in the diameter range from 9 to 12 mm with spiral coolant channels are now being produced on the 3D printer. Compared with the central coolant supply with diversions, this design permits a 100% increased coolant flow rate, particularly thanks to the deviation from the circular coolant channel profile. Furthermore, hybrid models are possible in which the conventional and the additive sinter production are combined in order to further improve the cost-effectiveness of the production process. Illustration: Ill 1: Production of tool bodies for the indexable insert drill QTD using the 3D laser sintering process. Words: Characters: Characters with spaces: 425 2.206 2.626 If published, please send a voucher copy by mail to Mrs Kathrin Rehor or by e-mail to kathrin.rehor@de.mapal.com. Short profile MAPAL Dr. Kress KG: MAPAL – tooling the customer's success MAPAL Präzisionswerkzeuge Dr. Kress KG is one of the leading international suppliers of precision tools for the machining of practically all materials. The company founded in 1950 supplies leading customers from the automotive and aerospace industries and from machine and plant engineering. With its innovations the family-owned company sets trends and standards in production and machining technology. MAPAL sees itself as a technology partner, supporting its customers with the development of efficient and resource-conserving machining processes using individual tool concepts. The company is represented with production facilities, sales subsidiaries and representatives in 44 countries worldwide. In 2013 the MAPAL Group had 4,300 employees, generating sales of EUR 470 million. Page(s) 2 of 2