3D Printing, a green data-driven additive manufacturing technology plays a significant role in the mold field. It is difficult for the traditional injection mold cooling water circuit to achieve uniform cooling and rapid cooling due to the limitations of the drilling process and the shape of the molded plastic parts. The conformal waterway based on 3D Printing is a new type of mold cooling way. Its cross-sectional shape and distribution can be closer to the surface of the mold cavity, achieving better heat conduction, effectively balancing the mold temperature and improving product quality.

  The conformal waterway is attained by melting laser and SLADLP (Stereo Lithgraph Appearance and Digital Light Processing) technology. The mold insert material is adpoted by 1.2709 mold steel (also known as MS1). It is a maraging steel and Its main advantages are: a) small heat treatment deformation; b) good processing and welding performance; c) heat treatment process is simple and convenient. After solid melting, mechanical processing is performed first and then is aging treatment.

 After using 3D printed conformal water channels, the injection molding cycle of the car handles was reduced from 25s to 13s; the temperature difference of the mold inserts was from 20°C to 5°C. It shows that the 3D printed conformal water channel has a good cooling effect. The deformation amount of molded plastic parts is reduced from 0.35 mm to 0.10 mm.