Linear Mold & Engineering
Linear EOS Machines
Linear expands metal 3D printing operations with four new machines.
Linear Mold & Engineering, a manufacturer of precision injections moulds, moulded parts and metal 3D printed parts has expanded its capacity to keep up with the rapid growth of its moulding and metal 3D printing business.
To respond to the influx of metal 3D printing operations, Linear has added two EOS M290 3D metal printing machines and two dual laser SLM Solutions 280 machines, to its current 14 machine line-up, dedicated to the production of parts.
“Our sales will be increasing next year by quite a bit,” commented John Tenbusch, President of Linear. “Our production business in the 3D metal process will exceed our mouldmaking business sometime next month and this is only the beginning. We have a number of customers that are serious about using 3D metal printed parts for production.”
Linear’s 3D metal printing technology is also used for its conformal cooling business, an area that is also experiencing a significant climb in demand. The newly acquired SLM machines will be dedicated to this part of the business as more OEMs, particularly those in the automotive industry, gain a greater understanding of the technology.
Tenbusch, added: “The conformal cooling work is starting to pick up as customers take a serious look at this technology. First they have to have acceptance of what it can do and for that they run their own tests and trials on the technology. However, a number of them have moved past the trial stage now and are looking for applications that are a perfect fit.”
The supplier of parts to the automotive, aerospace and medical industries, has also brought some of its external work in house with the installation of a new gun drill for water lines, ejector pin holes and custom manifolds. The Precihole single Spindle gun drill will reduce drilling time by 80% and enable depths of up to 50” with tolerance levels within a thousandth in both location and diameter.
Linear is currently undergoing a 17,000 square foot expansion to accommodate these new machines. The company operates out of four buildings including the North American headquarters which contain the 3D metal printing and CNC machining divisions.
