Optimization of Powder Bed Fusion of Maraging Steel Powders for Plastic Injection Moulding

Performances of plastic injection moulds heavily affect productivity and yields of high volume industries as packaging, cosmetics, RB is historically specialized in mould design and production and the introduction of a laser bed printer enlarged its possibilities especially in terms of optimization of cooling channels, more numerous and closer to the functional surface. RB started working with commercial maraging and other steel powders: they observed some differences among producers and grades and started questioning about the relationship between powders and printing parameters. The necessary metallurgical competences and laboratory equipment have been found in MIMETE, the new Italian metal powders producer. The two companies are working together on a long-term European project aiming at the development of new optimized powders and LPB/SLM process parameters to:

1) maximize productivity

2) control roundness and roughness of cooling channels

3) maximize powder life

4) reduce tendency to cracking

5) increase thermal fatigue properties.