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Home 3D Printing Westec Plastics Receives its First Mantle Production Metal 3D Printing System for...

Westec Plastics Receives its First Mantle Production Metal 3D Printing System for Tooling

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SAN FRANCISCO, CA, USA, Aug 29, 2023 – Mantle announced today the deployment and continued market traction for its metal 3D printing system for toolmaking. Mantle’s system automates how OEMs, molders, and toolmakers make precision mold tool components, reducing lead times and costs while accelerating how manufacturers go from product idea to launch.

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After completing multiple successful beta deployments, Mantle is shipping production versions of its P-200 printer and F-200 furnace incorporating additional hardware and process refinements. Westec Plastics, a custom plastic injection molder and tool builder based in Livermore, California, received the first Mantle production system.

“Having the Mantle equipment in-house enables Westec to complete prototype and production steel tooling inserts with a much shorter lead time than standard mold builds,” said Tammy Barras, President of Westec Plastics. “This will benefit our customers by providing production-quality steel tooling with aluminum tooling lead times.”

Westec Plastic installing their Mantle metal 3D printer

Another Mantle customer, Westminster Tool, has successfully utilized its Mantle beta system for over one year. This manufacturer of precision molds located in Plainfield, Connecticut, has produced components for prototype and production tools, including today’s announcement of a complex mold insert for an industrial customer that was ordered by Xpress7, a Minnesota-based mold builder. Westminster Tool utilized Mantle’s High-Precision Shaping capabilities to print the insert, significantly reducing the cost and lead time by eliminating over 180 hours of EDM work and all CAM programming. (full case study here)

Xpress7 metal 3D printed injection mold tooling
The insert featured deep thin ribs that would have required extensive sinker EDM work to produce traditionally

“The advantages of Mantle’s technology are multiplied when it replaces traditional EDM operations. Running almost entirely unattended, it allows us to accomplish similar geometries with a fraction of the personnel and skill level.” commented Hillary Thomas, Westminster Tool vice president.

Mantle will be featured in a joint presentation at the Molding and Moldmaking Conferences on August 29-30 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The panel presentation entitled “Metal 3D Printing that Makes Dollars and Sense” will feature Mantle, Westminster Tool, and Nicolet Plastics, who is also deploying a Mantle metal 3D printing system.

About Mantle

Mantle is the leading provider of precision metal 3D printers for toolmaking. Mantle’s TrueShape technology produces tools that have the accuracy, surface finish, and tool steel properties required for demanding tooling applications. Tools made with Mantle’s technology have produced millions of parts while reducing lead times by 75% and costs by 50%. Mantle is headquartered in San Francisco, California. To learn more, visit mantle3d.com.

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