A tutorial by Jaba 3D, which was published on Instructables, shows how metal parts can be produced by forming using a 3D printer and relatively simple means. With the help of self-printed plastic forming tools and a hydraulic press, individual metal components can be stamped.
In the example shown, a bracket was produced for the automotive sector. To do this, an image of the bracket was first converted into an SVG file and then a 3D model was created. PLA was used as the material for the molding tools, printed with 10 top and bottom layers and an infill rate of 80%.
The PLA molds were then used in a 6-ton press to stamp out the metal mount. According to Jaba 3D, the tooling was sufficient for two stamping operations and is unsuitable for volume production. Still, the instructions illustrate how the combination of 3D printing and forming can be used to cost-effectively produce custom metal parts.
The complete instructions and procedure from Jaba 3D can be viewed here.
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