Blow molding is process mostly used for manufacturing of various containers such as bottles. With the help of 3d printers the time of mold production is reduced by 90% and cost are cut by 94%.
Blow molding is a manufacturing process used to produce hollow plastic parts, such as bottles and other containers. Blow mold design and the specification of process parameters require skill and precision. A small change in the pinch--off or vent design, die temperature or blow pressure can dramatically affect the molding results.
Prototyping enables designers to validate these parameters and accelerate design approval. But up till now, high costs and long lead times have deterred blow mold prototyping.
Additive manufacturing, or 3D printing, makes prototyping a viable option. In this brief video you will learn how to produce cost-effective blow molds using PolyJet-based 3D printing from Stratasys.
3d printed vs. cnc machined aluminum blow molds |
Source: http://blog.stratasys.com/2014/06/30/3d-printed-blow-molds-plasel