Conformal Cooling. Production-Grade Tool Steels. Delivered in Days.
Serving injection mold makers across North America
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The Problem: Your Competitors Are Already Using AM
Traditional mold inserts have a fatal flaw: straight-line cooling channels that can't reach hotspots.
The result:
- Longer cycle times (you're leaving money on the table)
- Part defects from uneven cooling
- Premature tool wear
- Limited design freedom
Your customers are asking for conformal cooling. Can you deliver?
The Solution: Production-Grade AM Inserts from Palcam
We specialize in what others can't:
✓ H-13 Tool Steel — The industry standard for hot-work tooling
✓ 420 Stainless Steel — Corrosion resistance for medical/food applications
✓ True Conformal Cooling — Channels that follow your part geometry
✓ Finish-Machined to Tolerance — Not rough AM surfaces
✓ Heat Treated In-House — Full hardness, no delay
✓ 5-Day Turnaround — North American manufacturing, no overseas delays
Why North American Mold Makers Choose Palcam
1. Material Expertise That Matters
Most AM shops print maraging steel and call it "close enough."
We print the materials your molds actually need:
| Material | Application | Tensile Strength | Hardness |
|---|---|---|---|
| H-13 (AISI H13) | Hot runner systems, high-pressure molding | 1,800 MPa | 46-48 HRC |
| 420SS (AISI 420) | Medical molds, corrosive materials | 1,600 MPa | 48-49 HRC |
We've machined H-13 for 30 years. We understand how it behaves, how it heat-treats, and how it performs under pressure.
2. Not Just Printing — Complete Manufacturing
| Step | What We Do | What General AM Shops Do |
|---|---|---|
| DMLS in H-13 or 420SS | ✓ Same | |
| Stress Relief | In-house heat treatment | ✗ Outsource |
| Finish Machine | 5-axis CNC to final tolerance | ✗ None or outsource |
| Quality Inspect | CMM, Laser Scan, material certification | ✓ Basic |
| Deliver | 3-5 days across North America | 2-4 weeks from overseas |
You get a finished insert, not a rough print.
3. Designed for Mold Makers
We speak your language:
- Shrink compensation — Built into the AM process
- Parting line integrity — Critical surfaces finish-machined
- Ejector pin clearances — Precision holes post-machined
- Mold base compatibility — Standard pocket sizes
- Thermal conductivity — Optimized for your resin type
Not a generalist AM shop. Tooling is what we do.
Typical Applications
Hot Runner Manifolds
Complex internal geometries impossible with drilling. Uniform temperature distribution.
Core & Cavity Inserts
Conformal cooling reduces cycle times 20-40%. Improved part quality.
Medical Molds
420SS for corrosion resistance. Complex geometries for precision parts.
Automotive Interior
Large inserts with uniform cooling. Reduced warpage, better surface finish.
Packaging Molds
High-volume production durability. Faster cycles = more parts per hour.
The Palcam Difference
Compare Your Options:
| Factor | Overseas AM | US General AM | Palcam |
|---|---|---|---|
| Material | Maraging steel (H-13 lookalike) | Maraging steel | True H-13 & 420SS |
| Finish machining | No | Sometimes | Yes, 5-axis in-house |
| Lead time | 3-4 weeks + customs | 2-3 weeks | 5 days |
| Shipping | $$$ + delays | $$ | $ (North America) |
| Tool steel expertise | Limited | General | 30 years |
| Quality docs | Basic | Standard | Full certification |
You don't need to compromise.
Technical Specifications
Build Envelope: Up to 280mm x 280mm x 300mm (Z)
Materials:
- H-13 Tool Steel (hot-work, die casting, high-pressure molding)
- 420 Stainless Steel (medical, food-grade, corrosive resins)
Minimum Feature Size: 0.5mm wall thickness, 0.3mm channels
Surface Finish:
- As-printed: Ra 6-10 μm
- Post-machined: Ra 0.8-1.6 μm
Tolerances:
- As-printed: ±0.2mm
- Post-machined: ±0.01mm
Heat Treatment: In-house to 46-50 HRC
How It Works
Step 1: Upload Your Design
Send us your CAD file (STEP, IGES, or native SolidWorks/Inventor). Include cooling channel requirements.
Step 2: DfAM Review (Free)
Our engineers review for printability and suggest optimizations. No obligation.
Step 3: Quote & Schedule
Fixed-price quote. 5-day standard turnaround. Rush available.
Step 4: Print & Finish
LPBF printing → Heat treatment → 5-axis finish machining → Quality inspection
Step 5: Delivery
Ships anywhere in North America. Full material certification included.
Success Story: Automotive Interior Trim
Customer: Tier 1 automotive supplier
Challenge: Long cycle times on A-pillar trim mold
Solution: H-13 core insert with conformal cooling
Result:
- Cycle time reduced from 72s to 54s (25% improvement)
- Part warpage eliminated
- Tool life extended 40%
- ROI: 3 months
Quote: "We tried overseas AM before. Palcam delivered faster, with better quality, and actually understood mold requirements."
— Tooling Engineer, Automotive Supplier
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Can you match my existing mold steel properties?
A: Yes. Our H-13 meets or exceeds wrought H-13 specifications (HRC 48-52, tensile strength 1,800+ MPa).
Q: What's the largest insert you can print?
A: 280mm x 280mm x 300mm. For larger components, we print sections and join with precision machining.
Q: Do you provide material certifications?
A: Yes. Every insert includes material certification, heat treatment records, and inspection report.
Q: Can you work from my existing mold design?
A: Absolutely. We can convert traditional drilled-cooling designs to conformal cooling, or print to your existing specifications.
Q: What's the minimum order quantity?
A: One insert. No minimums. Perfect for prototyping or low-volume production.
Q: Do you ship to the US?
A: Yes. We ship throughout North America. Standard delivery: 2 days to most US/Canada locations.
Ready to Reduce Your Cycle Times?
Get a free DfAM review and quote.
Upload your CAD file and requirements. We'll review for printability and provide a fixed-price quote within 24 hours.
[Upload CAD File] [Request Quote] [Call 905-853-1675]
Palcam Technologies Ltd.
1300 Ringwell Drive, Newmarket, ON, Canada
Serving mold makers across North America
30 years of precision tooling. Now with additive manufacturing.