We’re very proud of RPM Tool Designer Mike Godber – his informative piece on Conformal Cooling has been published in Plastics Today.

Here is an excerpt.

Conformal cooling is an analysis to establish the most effective uniform cooling of the injection molded parts. This generally results in a more complex cooling channel arrangement than can be achieved by conventional machining.

Additive manufacturing techniques allow the cooling channels to be made exactly as the analysis demands, without the limitations that normal machining techniques have in following complex cavity geometry. This results in quicker, more-even cooling of the plastic and, hence, cheaper, more-accurate products.

Conformal cooling is made possible by using an additive manufacturing process, where metal powder is melted by focused laser beams, layer upon layer. These layers are built up and joined together as a solid block via direct metal laser sintering (DMLS).

A solid metal part is produced without limitations in its internal or external geometry. This allows cooling channels of any shape of to be built into the part (following the cavity shape).

In the example shown below conformal cooling meant that component warpage was eliminated and the cycle time of the tool was reduced by 30%. Read more about this and Mike’s full Conformal Cooling article on Plastics Today here.

 

 

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