b'Star Cutter distributes Neher 3D-printed cutting tools (left) through the sister company Star SU.Hyperion Materials & Technologies can 3D-print carbide rods (below) with optimized coolant channels.manager of round tool divisions. The company has an exclusive con-tract to sell tools from Ostrach, Germany-headquarteredNeher Group, which Star Cutter distrib-utes through its sister company Star SU LLC in Hoffman Estates, Illinois.He said Neher purchased its first Cutter Star3D printer in 2016 and began print-ing tools in 2020 on DMG Mori La-sertec 30 Dual selective laser melt-ing machines. Nearly all of Nehers 3D-printed tools are specials fo-cused on large interpolating tools, such as reamers and milling cut-ters. Similar to Kennametal, one tar-geted application is machining sta-Hyperion Materials & Technologies tor housings for electric vehicles.By 3D printing those tools for fin-ishing large diameters, as well as other large cutters, Dunneback said Neher can reduce tool weight by up to 30%.It still maintains its torsional stiff-ness, he said, so the performance of the body is intact. Lightening up can be very important, especially in the aerospace business where they specify the actual max weight that a tool can be that theyre using in their process, and sometimes it is a strug-gle trying to get those weights.Dunneback said weight reduc-tion primarily is achieved by creat-ing a honeycomb internal lattice in addition to its weight. If they aremuch easier to bring a 7-kg (15.4- structure in tool bodies.too heavy, the toolchanger will havelb.) tool to that spindle thana 20-kgThe inner structure is where we difficulties to move the tool tothe(44.1-lb.) tool. lighten the product more than any-spindle, and the connection pro- thing, he said.cess will not work properly. Tools on a Diet Dunneback said less tool weight Last but not least, he said light- Star Cutter Co. in Farmingtonmeans that less weight is exerted weight tools enhance worker safety. Hills, Michigan, is another cuttingon the machine spindle, which helps Imagineyouhaveama- tool manufacturer 3D printing toolswith overall preventive maintenance chinespindle that is difficult toto significantly reduce their weight,for the spindle. In addition, when reach, Grillenberger said. ItssaidJamieDunneback,salesan end user has a machining center ctemag.com/cteguide.com19Additive.indd 19 11/15/22 12:20 PM'