ExOne Launches Industrial-Grade 3D Printed Tooling Solutions

The ExOne Company launches a portfolio of industrial-grade 3D printed tooling available—offering new solutions for plastic injection molding or forming, laying up composites, casting metals and more.

New X1 Tooling products were on display at Chicago’s McCormick Place during Rapid + TCT.

“As the COVID pandemic has continued disrupting supply chains, we’ve had more and more manufacturers ask us: ‘Can you 3D print tooling?’" says John Hartner, ExOne's CEO. "Today, we’d like the market to know that the answer is yes—we can help de-risk your supply chains and make them more sustainable, with less shipping and other forms of waste. Our new tooling portfolio is a grand slam of fast and affordable new tooling options for manufacturers.”

A Fast, Flexible Tooling Portfolio

Manufacturers can now leverage six new and affordable tooling applications from ExOne.

For Plastic Production

• X1 MetalTool—This new 3D printed metal tooling option can replace standard steel or aluminum tooling for plastic injection molding, blow molding, and other plastic and foam forming applications. X1 MetalTool is available in 420i, a durable steel-bronze matrix, as well as 316L stainless steel, M2 tool steel and more. 
• X1 ThermoForm—A 3D printed sand form is infiltrated with a durable resin and coated to create small- to large-format molds for various thermoforming applications, such as vacuum forming, compression molds, foam molding and more.

For Composite Production

• X1 Layup—A 3D printed sand form is infiltrated with a durable resin and coated for high-precision, high-temperature composite layup applications. 
• X1 Washout—This 3D printed sacrificial tooling washes out with tap water after layup and autoclaving of composite materials, including carbon fiber. 

For Metal Production

• X1 SandCast—ExOne sells 3D printers for sand molds and cores for metalcasting. 
• X1 MetalTool—In addition to plastic forming applications, this can also be used to directly 3D print end-of-arm tooling, and rugged perishable or consumable cutting tools in various metals, including tool steels.
• X1 DieMold—Still in development, rugged die molds 3D printed in H13 tool steel are currently fast-tracked with several global manufacturers after passing proof of concept tests.

Manufacturers can now purchase X1 Tooling products directly from ExOne through the company’s ExOne Adoption Centers—or manufacturers can purchase a 3D printer for tooling applications.

For more information, click here. 

Sources: Press materials received from the company and additional information gleaned from the company’s website.