Radically enhanced productivity by inovatively designed and additively manufactured cooling channels

Important results from the project

The project aims to improve cooling in injection molding or pressing processes. With additive manufacturing, it is not only possible to place cooling channels optimally for locally increased cooling. It is also possible to increase the heat transfer between tools and coolant with the help of complex inner surface structures of the channels. Through practical experiments, we have verified this latter hypothesis and created credibility for channels developed with additive manufacturing to radically improve cooling capacity in relation to classically designed cooling channels.

Expected long term effects

We see a 37 % higher heat transfer rate with complex surface structures compared to smooth/drilled cooling channels. It is shown that the increase can be attributed to the increased effective area. No effect on the convective heat transfer coefficient or the laminar boundary layer has been noted. Tools with more efficient cooling widen the bottleneck in many production processes through reduced cycle times. The project results will be communicated to 33 stakeholders in the next issue of Swedish AM-arena´s newsletter. The impact outcome is reported in the post-report.

Approach and implementation

The project has been divided into four WPs. Project Management, Manufacturing, Experiment/Analysis and Communication. RISE Research Institutes of Sweden AB has been responsible for Project Management and Experiment/Analysis while RISE IVF AB has been in charge of Manufacturing and Communication. Unforeseen resource shortages caused delays. Hence the results became available shortly before project completion. Communication of project results to stakeholders therefore takes place in the near future and as a direct consequence of the project and its positive results.