Rapid Tooling in the tool making department of OECHSLER AG

How it all started

Paving the Way

Injection molding and additive manufacturing are two central core technologies at OECHSLER. With both manufacturing processes, OECHLSER is the global market leader in various product segments - for example in the production of the Electronic Parking Brake. At the same time, OECHSLER operates one of the world's largest polymer-based 3D printer fleets in series production. While 3D printing, which has only been established in the industry since the 1990s, has recently often been understood as a substitute for injection molding, which was developed in the 19th century, OECHSLER uses both technologies in a complementary manner.

3D-printing for toolmaking

The challenge

For more than 15 years, OECHSLER has been working with additively manufactured tool inserts made of metal, as these can integrate complex cavities and near-contour cooling. In 2014, we operated 3D printing for the first time ourselves in tool making - at that time for plastic inserts. In 2020, we expanded our portfolio in toolmaking and can now manufacture metal additive tool elements ourselves. Even though OECHSLER is one of the pioneers in additive manufacturing, implementing a new technology always presents challenges. For example, the size of the element and its accuracy is limited by the printer. The metal printer can achieve a part accuracy of 0.05 millimeters, which is not sufficient for injection molds in OECHSLER's high-precision applications.

The quality of the components must also be guaranteed, and since the laser generates heat in the printer, stresses can arise in the component during printing. Depending on the application of the component, this can lead to deformation or, in the worst case, breakage.