toolcraft uses Siemens’ solutions to accelerate 3D printing processes.
Global additive manufacturing leader uses NX to improve traceability, save time and reduce errors
toolcraft GmbH is a pioneer of forward-looking technologies, such as 3D metal printing and the construction of customized turnkey robotics solutions. toolcraft tests and develops innovative engineering processes for use on production lines. They are a supplier of high-quality parts to various industry original equipment manufacturers (OEM) in medical, automotive, aerospace, electronics and other industries.
toolcraft offers many manufacturing services, including metal laser melting, robotics, injection molding and mold making, turning and milling, spark erosion, engineering, measuring and testing. Metal laser melting is of particular significance.
Founded in 1989, toolcraft started as a one-man operation in a garage with a used three-axis machine. They have grown to approximately 300 employees with more than 70 computer numerically controlled (CNC) machines. toolcraft supports industries such as aerospace, medical, semiconductor, automotive and defense.
In 2011, toolcraft purchased its first additive manufacturing machine. An early entrant in the 3D printing sphere, toolcraft now possesses eight powder bed additive manufacturing machines, and is advancing to powder nozzle technology. In addition to 3D printing, toolcraft offers the entire process chain starting from design and ending with nondestructive testing on the part. All told, toolcraft offers a seven-to-nine step print process to their customers, all under one roof.
Additive manufacturing was more closely associated with prototyping in that time. A high volume of tests needed to be performed to be successful, and toolcraft used four software solutions to finish the process. Looking to pare down the process, toolcraft turned to Siemens PLM Software, which offered the ability to use one software solution to perform every task in the process chain. This is particularly valuable with aerospace, medical device, and semiconductor customers as they insist on traceability.
When preparing additive manufacturing parts, there are several versions of a part created to complete the process. First, the part is received from the customer, then toolcraft begins the process of modifying it. toolcraft generates support structures; they do over sizes on surfaces and change the angles of surfaces. They then have a modified part that goes directly to the 3D printer. After the part has been printed, it goes to machining to remove all support structures. At this point, toolcraft has a final part they deliver to the customer.
We see that with Siemens’ NX, this is only the beginning. We have high expectations that in the future a lot of our problems will be fully solved by Siemens.
Christoph Hauck managing director, toolcraft
Siemens’ NX software solutions provide toolcraft with the desired traceability as the full digital thread is in one software tool. With NX, it is easier to communicate with other departments if there are any changes on the computer-aided design (CAD) models. Since using NX, toolcraft has realized significant improvements in quality and accuracy. In addition, it is much easier to communicate model changes because milling, machining and additive manufacturing are in one software solution.
“With Siemens’ NX, we work with only one file along the process chain,” says Ralf Domider, additive engineering part designer, toolcraft. “There is less complexity. You can work in less time and have a lower error rate. That’s the main advantage of Siemens NX. With Siemens’ NX, we can supply all of these systems and all of these machines – Trumpf, EOS and ConceptLaser.”
toolcraft envisions their business evolving from powder bed additive manufacturing to full five-axis additive manufacturing, and expects to look to Siemens again as these future capabilities are added to their manufacturing processes.
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