Closing piston for filling disposable paint cylinders
Uncomplicated production thanks to 3D printing
09.04.2021
Author: Sven Müller, Head of Additive Manufacturing Department, JP3D-tecvision GmbH & Co. KG, Straubing, Germany
The expertise of JP3DTecVision GmbH & Co. KG lies in the development and production of additively manufactured components made of metal or plastic. Various processes are used to manufacture the components.
Description of the component:
The sealing piston for filling disposable paint cylinders is a joint project of JP3DTecVision GmbH & Co KG and Florian Kessler GmbH. The sealing piston is used in mechanical engineering. Selective laser melting (SLM) was used to manufacture the component.
JP3D-tecvision GmbH & Co. KG,
JP3D-tecvision GmbH & Co. KG,
JP3D-tecvision GmbH & Co. KG,
Challenges:
The assembly of the conventionally manufactured closing piston consists of twelve components that require assembly. Due to its own weight, a ring falls down in the assembly, which prevents filling without attaching a lid. The challenge of the project was to reproduce the functionality of the assembly in one component.
Solution:
With the help of additive manufacturing, the component could be designed in such a way that, after removing the support structures, it consists of two halves that can move within themselves and are now manufactured in one go. This eliminates the need for any assembly work. This is not possible with any other manufacturing process. After validation of the functional principle on the system, the component was further optimized topologically in order to reduce both weight and manufacturing costs to a minimum. These adjustments ensured that the component could be used in series production. On the one hand, this means lower procurement costs for customers, and on the other hand, spare parts management has been greatly improved. As a result, the number of supplying companies was reduced from three to one.
Conclusion:
The component is an example of how additive manufacturing is not only suitable for highly complex applications. Even comparatively simple components or functional assemblies can be produced economically with the appropriate adaptations and optimizations. It is therefore worth looking into the opportunities offered by the technology and seeking advice on its advantages and disadvantages.