Additive Manufacturing and Subtractive Manufacturing: Discussion on the Application of Molds Behind Precision Machining
June 04,2025
Additive Manufacturing and Subtractive Manufacturing: Discussion on the Application of Molds Behind Precision Machining
Modern industrial manufacturing has put forward higher requirements for accuracy, efficiency and design freedom. In addition to traditional subtractive manufacturing technologies (such as milling, grinding, etc.), additive manufacturing (3D printing) technology is also rapidly emerging and becoming an important means of manufacturing innovation. Both have their own advantages and are widely used in the fields of automobiles, aerospace, medical devices and machinery manufacturing. In these two manufacturing methods, the role of molds is particularly critical and is directly related to processing quality and production efficiency.
Introduction to Additive Manufacturing Technology and Mold Application
Additive manufacturing, also known as 3D printing, is a process of building parts by stacking materials layer by layer. Common additive manufacturing technologies include selective laser sintering (SLS), selective laser melting (SLM), fused deposition modeling (FDM) and stereolithography (SLA). This type of technology is known for its extremely high design freedom. It can manufacture parts with complex shapes and internal cavities or grid structures, with high material utilization and greatly reducing material waste. Additive manufacturing is particularly suitable for rapid prototyping, small batch production and personalized customization, and is widely used in aerospace, automotive, medical equipment and mold manufacturing. Its advantages also include shortening the development cycle, promoting innovative design and the realization of diversified solutions.
Although additive manufacturing can directly form complex structures, the surface of the printed parts is usually rough, with layer lines and tiny defects, and subsequent machining is required to meet the size and surface quality requirements. At this time, efficient abrasives become key tools. Abrasives such as grinding wheels, sanding belts, flap wheels and polishing wheels are widely used for deburring, surface flattening and finishing of additive manufacturing parts to ensure that the products reach industrial-grade precision and aesthetics. Especially in the fields of aerospace and medical, the high requirements for surface quality and functionality have driven abrasives to continuously develop high-performance and high-wear-resistant materials to meet the special needs of additive manufacturing post-processing.
Subtractive manufacturing is to remove excess material by cutting, milling, grinding and other methods to process the workpiece into a predetermined shape. This technology is mature and suitable for mass production, especially good at ensuring high-precision dimensions and excellent surface quality. Typical processes include CNC milling, turning, grinding, wire cutting, electrical discharge machining (EDM), laser cutting and water jet cutting. Subtractive manufacturing plays a core role in the production of automobiles, aerospace, machinery manufacturing and medical equipment. It can efficiently process steel, cast iron, aluminum alloys and composite materials to meet the strict requirements of industry for part durability and functionality.
Abrasives play a basic and key role in subtractive manufacturing, especially in the grinding process. Different types of grinding wheels (such as ceramic grinding wheels, resin bonded grinding wheels) and polishing tools are widely used for rough machining, finishing and surface polishing according to process requirements to ensure that parts achieve high precision and mirror-level surface quality. Abrasive performance directly affects processing efficiency and product quality, prompting continuous innovation of abrasive materials and structures to meet the processing needs of high-hardness materials and complex geometries.
As an important bridge between the two, abrasives support the seamless connection from additive manufacturing to subtractive manufacturing. With the increasing application of composite materials and high-hardness materials, the improvement of abrasive technology has become a key link in ensuring manufacturing quality. In response to the surface roughness problems unique to additive manufacturing and the high precision requirements of subtractive manufacturing, the research and development of molds continues to develop towards higher hardness, better structure and longer life, promoting the intelligence and efficiency of the entire manufacturing chain.
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