Composite additive manufacturing

Composite additive manufacturing: a fast, recyclable and high-performance solution for industrial tooling

Composite additive manufacturing, presented by Frédéric Fourreau, CEO of UBSIDE in Lorient, perfectly illustrates how innovative composite technologies can transform industrial processes.
Specializing in composite additive manufacturing, UBSIDE designs custom tooling for forming and curing technical parts, with the support of the Carnot MICA.

High-performance, custom 3D-printed composite tooling

The tooling presented by UBSIDE was designed for the forming and curing of a foil, entirely produced using composite additive manufacturing.
The machine’s technical capabilities are remarkable: it can produce molds up to 4 m x 2 m x 1 m, fully 3D printed, before machining to achieve a perfect finish.
These tools can withstand curing temperatures up to 130°C, with some models reaching 180°C, while remaining compatible with autoclave processes.

Beyond forming, composite additive manufacturing also enables the creation of machining, positioning and inspection tools, paving the way for flexible and rapid industrial production.

A sustainable, fast technology adaptable to all sectors

The main advantages of composite additive manufacturing lie in its production speed and recyclability:

• Molds can be designed, printed and machined in just four days,
• Materials are fully recyclable, with tooling that can be ground and reused to produce new parts.

This technology meets the needs of multiple sectors:

• Defense: design of complex structural parts cured at high temperatures,
• Aerospace: lightweight, high-resistance tooling,
• Competitive sailing: rapid production of tooling in Brittany.