Omega Reduces Tooling Inventory with F3300 Modular Paint Fixtures

Customer Profile 

Founded in 1981, Omega Tool Corp is a global leader specializing in designing and manufacturing large, complex injection molds. In addition to mold making, the company excels in engineering, production, painting, and additive manufacturing, delivering comprehensive solutions to OEMs across the mobility, aerospace, and consumer sectors. 

Intro

Omega Tool Corp, a global leader in injection mold production, needed a modular paint fixture solution to improve paint line efficiency and reduce tooling inventory. Traditional machined metal fixtures were heavy, costly, and inflexible. 

Solution 

Instead of a fully metal approach, Omega incorporated 3D printed components made from ULTEM™ 9085 resin using the Stratasys F3300™, an industrial FDM 3D printer. The high-strength, heat-resistant ULTEM™ parts were ideal for the paint environment, enabling a modular, reconfigurable fixture design.

Impact 

The new fixture supported 30 lb parts without deformation, even at high temperatures. It enabled repeatable adjustments, reduced overall fixture weight, and improved production tooling flexibility. With the F3300’s speed and reliability, Omega scaled up its additive manufacturing workflow across departments. 

Using the 3D printed components allowed Omega to develop a more effective modular paint fixture compared to an all-metal tool and achieved the following design objectives: 

• Modular, reconfigurable fixture 

• Successfully supported a 30 lb. part through all phases of paint operation 

• Maintained mechanical integrity of ULTEM™ parts with no deformation under heat and load 

• Fast, repeatable fixture adjustment 

• Fixture reusability demonstrated by successful operation through the full paint cycle 

Additionally, incorporating 3D printed components reduces overall fixture weight compared to all-metal tools, and the modularity reduces the inventory of required paint fixtures. At a higher level, the F3300’s speed and user-friendly operation give Omega Corp the simplicity and pace vital for fast production of additive solutions across departments.