The ExOne Company, a developer and supplier of binder-jet additive manufacturing technology, acquired the assets of Freshmade 3D, an Ohio business with a patented method for creating tooling from sand forms 3D-printed on ExOne machines.
The value of the private transaction was not announced. ExOne said the move will strengthen its position as a supplier of large-format 3D-printed tooling for industrial applications.
After sand printing, the tooling forms are infiltrated and coated using Freshmade 3D’s patented method. ExOne explained this process “eliminates weeks or months of time spent waiting for conventional tooling,” and typically results in a 30-50% cost savings. It can be applied to a range of tooling applications, including composite layup, vacuum forming, compression molds, urethane casting molds, trim fixtures, hydroforming, and sheet metal stamping, among others. AMClad tooling is being used today by customers in the aerospace, art, architecture, automotive, construction, and energy industries.
ExOne has been using industrial 3DP to print tooling since 2014, and currently offers sacrificial tooling for composite layup that washes out with water. The patented Freshmade 3D approach offers additional benefits and may accelerate adoption of tooling produced by sand 3D printing.