Additive manufacture of complex objects in metal is increasing, and the tyre industry is seemingly a major beneficiary. Since its acquisition of Phenix Systems, 3D Systems reports that it has shipped more than two dozen of its ProX Direct Metal printers to a number of automotive tyre manufacturers. The new machines allow tyre makers to create new, more intricate tread designs that would be impossible to produce with traditional methods.
3D metal printing gives tyre manufacturers the ability to quickly produce tread moulds to test multiple design iterations before moving onto mass production. The slits on a tire’s tread, known as tyre sipes, need to be optimally designed to balance improved traction on wet surfaces versus stability on dry surfaces. In order to test new sipe concepts and other modifications, tyre manufacturers are turning to the ProX 300 to 3D print metal tyre moulds for testing. In addition to being faster than machining or injection moulding metal parts, direct metal 3D printing allows for fully dense metal parts with thinner walls, sharper edges and more complex details than their traditional counterparts. Currently, the ProX series can 3D print fifteen different metals, such as tool steel, stainless steel, super alloys, non-ferrous alloys, precious metals and alumina.
Intricate 3D printed moulds could lead to better traction and control for drivers, consequently improving auto safety, so, any improvements to tyre design is welcomed.
