Business Wire
VHM Fonderie
3D printed production tools include positioning supports (seen here in white) for VHM Fonderie's deburring robot
French foundry and machining company, VHM Fonderie has seen its product development time shortened and capacity improved since introducing Stratasys PolyJet 3D printers.
Initiating its Stratasys Connex Multi-material 3D printer across its entire design and manufacturing process, VHM Fonderie is now looking to further exploit the technology’s potential. The company has established its own service bureau, Reali3D, for its external customers.
Included in VHM Fonderie’s design and manufacturing process, and thus being directly affected by the introduction of 3D technology, is the production of prototypes, master models for sand casting and manufacturing tools. Additionally, the company has begun to 3D-print spare production parts for certain tooling machines.
For complex sand casting applications in particular, the company is using Stratasys’ advanced simulated polypropylene material, Rigur, to produce 3D-printed models that are subsequently used to make sand moulds.
“To manufacture an object using the sand casting process, we need to first produce a master model of the specific part,” explains Laurent Poux, Industrial Director, VHM Group. “This is then used to make a mould, from which the desired object itself is then manufactured. In the context of the end-to-end manufacturing workflow, the level of time-saving enjoyed with 3D printing isn’t merely improvement or progression, it’s transformational.
“With 3D printing, we save about a month when it comes to producing the various models used to create our moulds. This enables us to deliver orders for our customers incredibly quickly, which has in turn improved our capacity.”
Objet350 Connex
Objet350 Connex Multi-material 3D Printer from Stratasys.
This level of time-saving allows VHM Fonderie to reduce product development time for the many castings it manufactures for its clients. As well as the VHM Group’s other businesses, this comprises a number of external clients – among them, Paris landmarks like the Le Jardin des Tuileries, Le Caroussel du Louvre and La Place Vendome.
3D-printed moulds are just one application which VHM Fonderie utilise the Stratasys Connex 3D printer. Another area in which it is used is in the production of various tooling items, such as positioning jigs that are used across the assembly line to increase production efficiency. The printer’s use has even been extended to replacing obsolete parts for the company’s tooling machines, such as its belt sander machine, providing VHM Fonderie with a new level of versatility in production.
“Use of Stratasys 3D printing technology has given us a level of self-reliance that has not only revolutionised some of our traditional production processes, but it has allowed us to become significantly more flexible as a company when it comes to manufacturing,” added Poux. “We’re really excited to produce everything from concept models and fully-functional prototypes, to assembly tools for the production line.”
Additive manufacturing solutions company, Stratasys is flattered VHM Fonderie is seeing such improvements in its design and manufacturing process using its PolyJet 3D printing technology. Andy Middleton, President, Stratasys, EMEA said the French company was a fine illustration of how to reap the benefits of 3D printing across a range of areas.
“VHM Fonderie is the perfect example of how a growing number of manufacturers are not merely exploring the use of 3D printing in a limited capacity, but are reaping multiple benefits through its widespread integration across all areas of production,” said Middleton. “Stratasys remains committed to educating the market and working closely with customers to ensure that, like VHM Fonderie, they maximise the full potential of 3D printing technology to reduce time and costs within their manufacturing operations.”
