What Is Freeform Injection Molding

What is Freeform Injection Molding(FIM)

Danish manufacturer AddiFab, an emerging leader in the 3D printing industry, is transforming the injection molding process with 3D printing. AddiFab's Freeform Injection Molding (FIM) combines 3D printing and injection molding to bring better products to market faster and cheaper.

FIM technology is generally divided into three steps, starting with 3D printing and ending with injection molding:

1. Print injection molds using high-end Add-Line 3D printers and AddiFab resin

2. Fill 3D printed injection molds using conventional injection molding machines and commonly used injection materials

3. Dissolve or disassemble the injection mold

The use of soluble 3D printing materials is one of the most important innovations in the Add-Line production chain and enables injection moulding technology to have the same design freedom as 3D printing.

On March 27, 2022, California-based industrial 3D printer manufacturer Nexa3D, in partnership with Addifab, one of the pioneers of 3D printing in the mold industry, launched its Freeform Injection Molding (FIM) 3D printing platform. Through this cooperation, the two companies hope to provide effective solutions for many industries to solve the problems faced by the mold industry

Advantages of Freeform Injection Molding

1.Users can make molds in just a few hours, speeding up to the production stage

2.Can manufacture complex geometry molds

3.Compatible with most thermoplastics, especially high-performance thermoplastics

The combination of injection molding and 3D printing can solve a manufacturer's problem with the best of both worlds. Both more complex molds can be made faster and cheaper, and when mass-produced.