Key technologies and application of metal arc spray tooling

Metal arc spray tooling is a rapid tooling process based on 'surface replication', which has the advantages of less lead time and lower manufacturing cost compared with conventional die-making methods. Metal arc spray mold is a kind of composite mold with functionally gradient material structure, and consists of metal shell, backing strengthening layer and steel frame. Arc spray tooling process mainly includes: master pattern preparation, surface pretreatment, fabrication of the metal shell, frame fabrication, backing strengthening and post treatment. Metal arc spray tooling can be applied to manufacture injection mold, thermo forming mold and sheet metal stamping mold etc. Finally, the whole arc spray tooling process is described in detail in the rapid tooling example of a large-scale auto body panel mold.