How do 3D printing molds match-up against TISS’s Advanced Mold Making and Proprietary Process Engine?

3D printing has come a long way in recent years.  According to IBIS World, it is currently a $492.4 million market and is expected to grow by 80% over the next five years.  This sort of growth will open up all kinds of new applications for 3D printing.  In fact, NASA has already experimented with using this technology with the hope that they can begin to establish on-demand machine shops…in space.  We’ll be doing the Kessel Run in under 12 parsecs in no time. So, at this point, what can’t 3D printing do?

Well, there’s a movement that is pushing the use of 3D printing for mold making.  While it certainly can be done, let’s take a look at why we think this to be more of a novelty than anything else.

Can’t achieve tight tolerances – 3D printing is still in it’s infancy.  You can only achieve a certain amount of detail in the final product and, compared to a metal mold, is nowhere near the tolerances offered.  These molds are subject to all the persnickety problems that are inherent to 3D printing too…warping, curling and cracking.  If the mold fails to print correctly, you’ll have to throw it out and start again.

Plastic molds wear easily – Plastic molds begin to show signs of wear after just 10-20 shots and usually become useless after 50.  So you can’t even be sure how many parts you can create using that one mold.  And once its worn, you are back to reprinting a new one which is subject to all the same pitfalls listed here.

“The number of shots you get from a 3D printed polymer mold is limited.” said Brendan Weaver, President of TISS Mold & Engineering. “The 3D printed mold can only take so many squirts and only so much heat and pressure, depending on resin selection. You might be able to get 50 shots off it, but when it goes into a press—to establish a good process—25 to 30 shots are needed to get a good part. By that time, you’ve used up most of the mold’s capability. If you need another 50-100 parts, you need to reprint the entire mold.”
Limitations on resin selection and tolerances – If you need an accurate prototype, a 3D printed mold is too unpredictable to achieve tight tolerances and, unfortunately, there is also a limited selection of resins to choose from.  Using a 3D printed mold can provide a prototype, but nothing more.  It won’t be an accurate representation with quality materials and it likely won’t be using production quality resins.