Massivit 3D Introduces the Massivit 10000 for Composite Tooling at CAMX 2021

The new composite tooling system automates the build process and leverages thermoset additive manufacturing.

A complex mold made with the Massivit 10000. (Image courtesy of Massivit 3D.)

A complex mold made with the Massivit 10000. (Image courtesy of Massivit 3D.)

Large-format 3D printing solutions developer Massivit 3D recently unveiled its all-new Massivit 10000 composites tooling system at this year’s CAMX 2021 in Dallas, Tex. The system was designed to address bottleneck challenges in the composites tooling process through automation. This eliminates the need to produce an initial master or plug. The system also utilizes the company’s latest Cast-In-Motion (CIM) technology, which combines ultrafast additive manufacturing with direct casting of proprietary, industrial-grade, dual component Epoxy-based material. It consolidates existing 19-step molding workflows into just four steps while also offering extensive geometry freedom for complex designs.

Large tools and molds traditionally used for producing fiber-reinforced composite parts are expensive, slow-to-build, and tend to require extensive manual skilled labor. The Massivit 10000 system, which addresses time and cost issues for the manufacturing of large tooling, can shorten the production time of molds by 80 percent and also save up to 90 percent of manual labor. It has a build volume of up to 1.2 x 1.5 x 1.65 meters (3.9 x 4.9 x 5.4 feet), making it suitable for a wide range of applications.

“We are thrilled to unveil our advanced Cast-In-Motion technology to the composites manufacturing arena at CAMX 2021,” shared Massivit 3D CEO Erez Zimerman. “This market is hungry for innovation that will shift the paradigm for molding so that manufacturers can finally expedite their lead times from several weeks down to just a few days. By automating the mold production process, we’re able to offer manufacturers a way to dramatically cut their costs and reduce the associated material waste.”

The tool pattern is created with a UV-curable gel using Massivit 3D’s patented Gel Dispensing Printing (GDP) technology. It also leverages thermoset polymer casting materials that provide a high heat deflection temperature (HDT) and low coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE). The desired tool is produced by casting any of a variety of dual-component thermoset engineering materials based on the mechanical and thermal process requirements. The 3D-printed tool is then immersed in water where the sacrificial pattern will break off and leave the desired mold, which is then ready for use.

Some of the benefits offered by the Massivit 10000 allows for mold production of function-oriented, intricate geometries. This also means an improved and quicker tool design cycle that aims to reduce iteration as well. CAD part to CAD mold design enables increased accuracy, consistency, and higher reliability. The system’s versatility and multiple casting materials also means optimized use during operations.

The company’s CIM technology also offers particular advantages for the sacrificial pattern as well as casting. The sacrificial pattern can accommodate complex shapes and high throughput, as well as offers improved resolution and accuracy. For casting, it provides mechanical strength, thermal resistance, chemical resistance, isotropy and long-term performance.

Massivit 3D will soon be announcing the Massivit 10000’s availability for preorder. The company has shared that the waiting list is already growing.

The Massivit 10000 was also selected as the winner of the ACE Award for Composites Excellence in the category of Manufacturing: Equipment and Tooling Innovation during the CAMX 2021 event. The ACE awards recognize manufacturing innovation for equipment and tooling in composites manufacturing. The Massivit 10000 was selected among six finalists by the American Composites Manufacturers Association (ACMA).

“We are honored to receive this prestigious industry award that recognizes the implication of digitalizing existing manufacturing processes in the composites market,” said Zimerman. “Cast-In-Motion technology marks a milestone in the evolution of composites manufacturing.”

For more information, visit Massivit 3D’s official website.