3D Printed Machining Fixture for Stainless Steel
Why CNC Machine Shops are 3D Printing their Jigs and Fixtures
This fixture is for machining stainless steel – and 3D printing reduced the cost of manufacture from £1200 to just £89.60. Not only that, the fixture was ready in just 3 days instead of the quoted 2 weeks.
Designed for the final operation on a stainless steel component, this fixture had to stand up to high forces and repeat exposure to coolant, all without marking the job in any way. With a lead time requirement of less than 1 week on the component, reliability was critical.
It was fixed to the Lang-Technik base plate with embedded self tapping inserts, and 6mm nuts buried inside the print allowed it to be firmly secured.
More than 2500 cycles later the fixture was still going strong, and it was lighter and cheaper than aluminium.
So why aren’t you 3D printing yet?
The return on investment is clear for CNC machine shops. Click here to get the guide on the Economics of 3D Printing, and find out where you can reduce costs and lead times.
We know these are bold claims, and we’re ready to prove them. If you’d like to see the proof yourself, request a sample part for your own application.
At a glance:
Could you benefit from automating your jig and fixture manufacturing? By 3D printing you can free up your CNC machines and have new jigs and fixtures ready in hours instead of days.
Get in touch with us at Mark3D UK Limited to arrange a live demonstration at your facility, or to request a sample 3D printed part to test yourself!
Learn more about 3D printing for Jigs, Fixtures, Workholding and Tooling
3D printing isn’t a novelty; it’s a widespread modern manufacturing technology. See where else Markforged technology has proved it’s worth in workshops and the Manufacturing industry in the case studies below!
