Additive Surface Graining in Prototype Tooling for Injection Molding

Journal of Manufacturing and Materials Processing, vol. 6, pp. 54

Abstract

Surface properties of injection molded parts have a strong effect on the visual and haptic perception of the parts by customers. Especially for injection molded automotive interior parts, grained surfaces can often be found. In conventional tooling, graining requires separate process steps. This makes the realization of grained injection molded prototype parts very complex. By additive manufacturing of injection molds in prototype tooling, it is possible to print micro structures into the mold surface in one printing operation. An injection mold with four different graining structures varying in depth and distance was designed and additively manufactured. The specification regarding the surface graining was analyzed by means of roughness measurements of the CAD model, injection mold and injection molded parts. Results show the feasibility of highly controllable additive surface graining.

Authors 4

1. Peter Burggräf Aachen Laboratory for Machine Tools and Production Engineering (WZL)

   University of Siegen · RWTH Aachen University

   Affiliation as printed

   Chair of International Production Engineering and Management, University of Siegen, Paul-Bonatz-Straße 9-11, 57076 Siegen, Germany

   Laboratory for Machine Tools and Production Engineering (WZL), RWTH Aachen University, Campus-Boulevard 30, 52074 Aachen, Germany

2. Georg Bergweiler Aachen Laboratory for Machine Tools and Production Engineering (WZL)

   RWTH Aachen University

   Affiliation as printed

   Laboratory for Machine Tools and Production Engineering (WZL), RWTH Aachen University, Campus-Boulevard 30, 52074 Aachen, Germany

3. Josef A. Abrams corresponding Aachen Laboratory for Machine Tools and Production Engineering (WZL)

   RWTH Aachen University

   Affiliation as printed

   Laboratory for Machine Tools and Production Engineering (WZL), RWTH Aachen University, Campus-Boulevard 30, 52074 Aachen, Germany

4. Anna Dunst Aachen Laboratory for Machine Tools and Production Engineering (WZL)

   RWTH Aachen University

   Affiliation as printed

   Laboratory for Machine Tools and Production Engineering (WZL), RWTH Aachen University, Campus-Boulevard 30, 52074 Aachen, Germany