75% cost savings with 3D-printed positioning bars

New GOOD Packing Machine Co. saves costs, weight and time in its cartoning machines.

The Chinese manufacturer Shanghai New GOOD Packing Machine Co., Ltd. relies on positioning bars made of iglidur i150 in its cartoning machines. They are manufactured quickly and cost-effectively using 3D printing and offer clear advantages over the aluminium bars previously used: they are up to 75% more cost-effective, 85% lighter and impress with their high wear resistance.

Requirement, challenge and solution

3D-printed sliders in a packaging machine with aluminium profiles.

Challenge

What was needed: a cost-effective alternative to the CNC-machined aluminium positioning rails in cartoning machines that could be produced quickly.

Requirements: flexibility for changing product geometries, high wear resistance and fast delivery times with cost-effective production.

3D-printed sliders for cartoning machines in a packaging line.

Problem

Shanghai New GOOD Packing Machine Co., Ltd. produces cartoning machines that are used in the food and pharmaceutical industries. The precision, flexibility and reliability of their systems are essential as products of different geometries must be precisely aligned before they are picked up by grippers and placed in cartons. Previously, CNC-machined aluminium positioning bars were used to align the products.

However, the previous aluminium solution reached its limits. Production was expensive, involved long delivery and production times and required complex post-processing. The production of special geometries in particular was time-consuming and uneconomical. For efficient production and high flexibility with frequently changing product formats, the company was looking for a more cost-effective and faster alternative.

Solution

The answer to this challenge was found in additive manufacturing. The positioning bars were replaced by 3D-printed components made of iglidur i150 tribofilament.
This material offers up to seven times higher wear resistance as well as 70% weight savings compared to conventional POM and is 85% lighter than aluminium. Thanks to the fast manufacturing process in 3D printing, new geometries can be implemented from design to ready-to-use bar within just three to four days - without tool costs and post-processing. At the same time, this solution achieved cost savings of 75% compared to the previous aluminium version.

Thanks to the positioning bars made of iglidur i150, Shanghai New GOOD Packing Machine was able to move away from time-consuming and cost-intensive aluminium production to a significantly more flexible, cheaper and more durable solution.

Overview of the advantages in use

75% cost savings compared to aluminium bars
85% lighter than aluminium
70% lighter than POM
Delivered in three to four days

Material used

igus 3D printing filament is a special material for technical applications. It has a lower coefficient of friction than conventional materials, is easy to process and constitutes a good alternative to POM. The product range includes versatile all-rounders in addition to food-compatible and high-temperature filaments. All igus tribofilaments can be processed with standard FDM/FFF 3D printers.

More about the iglidur i150 filament Order samples now!

iglidur i150 tribofilament on cardboard spools in black and white for 3D printing.

More about the iglidur i150 filament Order samples now!

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Our materials at a glance

The perfect material for your application. Find out everything about the advantages and application areas of the wear-resistant tribofilaments and 3D printing resins from igus.

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Cover picture: whitepaper cover about igus 3D printing materials and POM, shown as an open brochure mock-up.

3D printing materials vs. POM

Wear behaviour in direct comparison: test results and real-world examples provide you with valuable decision-making aids for selecting the right material.

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