When we think of using presses to form metal, we think of large stamps made with custom metal molds under unimaginable hydraulic pressure. We are unlikely to think of anything 3D printing. In the business environment, we are right. But ordinary garage hackers are more likely to use vises and 3D printers. It is against this background that [transportation container garage] has spent a lot of time, energy and money to improve the process of pressing copper parts with 3D printing molds, as you can see below.
In the process of customizing the intake manifold for his project car, [transportation container garage] first made a 3D printing fixture for cutting the manifold flange fixed on the cylinder head. This is a process he calls simulating CNC, because all cutting is done by hand.
Inspired by his success, he continued his next step: training a variety of runners. The metal he chose was copper. Although softer than many metals such as steel, he found it too hard. In the video, he describes his method of annealing copper. After cooling, press two 3D printing molds into the copper tube to form gradually. Watch the video and find out one of the cleanest details of the mold itself: how he got it out!
Of course, no matter how clever all this is, it is useless if it produces bad results. This is the most shocking part: these parts are within 0.006 inch (0.15mm) from each other, and these parts are suitable for manufacturing their manifold flanges. In addition, the mold can be used during the project at hand. This seems to be a feasible method for small batch production. It will be interesting to see how others iterate these processes to a higher level.
You may also like to see 3D printing used in leather processing and beautiful circuit sculpture fixtures. Thank you very much for your tips! If you have your own urgent problems to share, please tell us through the prompt line!