Tooling Productivity Gain - Conformal Cooling

After several years of R&D, PEP is now the French market leader in the thermal optimization of injection tools.

PEP is combining its expertise in tooling, injection and thermal processes with selective laser powder melting technology. In this way, PEP is designing and making mould components with geometrically-complex cooling canals that enable thermal optimization of tooling and components. This technology is known as conformal cooling.

As part of the UFFO transfer of technology programme, PEP has worked with PERNOUD and one of its clients in the thermal optimization of a tool for car-dashboard front fairing.

The traditional technique for initial tool regulation generated appearance defects, imposing a painting stage. The technique also resulted in a production cycle time of 70 seconds, whereas the goal was 50 seconds.

Apart from these problems that required correction, the technical data was as follows:

• Cavity dimensions: 165 mm  x 40 mm x 175 mm (x 2 cores)
• Material: PA 6.6
• Component thickness: 3-5 mm
• Mould warranty: 1,000,000 components

After research (thermal, mechanical and fluidic) and design work, PEP made 2 thermally-optimized cores that achieved the following results:

• Cycle time of 43 seconds, or a 35% gain
• Thermal homogeneity of the cavity, improving component surface appearance (elimination of painting) and its distortion

PEP's expertise and control of conformal cooling technology has enabled its clients to improve the quality of their component, while also reducing its cost.

PEP can take credit for many other success stories with conformal cooling, in every sector of plastics engineering: packaging, cosmetics, medicine, the building industry, pens, etc.

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Find out about our selective laser melting - SLM / conformal cooling services