Sodick demonstrates OPM250L at MACH

MACH 2016A ‘hybrid’ machine designed ostensibly for the manufacture of mould tools was being demonstrated by Sodick (www.sodick.org).

The OPM250L is at the heart of a process for the fast manufacture of tools that are optimised for the efficient production of high-quality moulded parts. This machine, which features linear motor drives, uses the powder-bed principle for additive manufacturing via a 500W fibre laser and 50µm particle size.

It also features a 45,000rev/min spindle for high-speed milling, which is used to machine any required areas every 0.5mm of build height, thereby allowing the manufacture of one-piece moulds while achieving the level of high-quality shape and finish not attainable by additive manufacturing alone.

The machine is used in conjunction with ‘OPM mold’ for the optimum design of cooling channels; and compared with conventional mould manufacture, costs and lead times can be more than halved. Furthermore, the moulded product is invariably superior.