Complex tire patterns and increasing market demand make traditional tire mould production slow, costly, and difficult to achieve high precision. Manual processes, such as inserting hundreds or even thousands of steel pieces for specialized or winter tire moulds, significantly increase production complexity. UnionTech’s industrial 3D printing solutions help manufacturers overcome these challenges, improving precision, efficiency, and workflow—allowing you to deliver high-quality tire molds faster and at lower cost.
The tire mold industry has officially entered the era of “High Precision + Fast Change”, where traditional manufacturing methods often struggle to keep pace with evolving market demands. UnionTech addresses these critical pain points by leveraging advanced 3D printing for tire mould to redefine production standards.
As tread patterns become increasingly diverse and complex, achieving stringent geometry accuracy is a top priority. Our industrial 3D printer solutions ensure that even the most intricate sipes and sophisticated textures are captured with absolute fidelity.
The conventional CNC + SLM hybrid process is lengthy and labor-intensive, often requiring 2-3 weeks for a single cycle. By integrating high-performance 3D printing equipment, manufacturers can significantly reduce lead times and eliminate the high labor costs associated with manual modifications.
Fragmented market demand requires frequent mold changes and small-batch production, which can lead to inventory backlogs. A versatile SLA 3D printer allows for rapid design iterations and greater flexibility, preventing the cost pressures of traditional mass-production tooling.
With automakers demanding faster turnaround times, the automotive 3D printed tire market is shifting toward agile manufacturing. Our technology enables rapid delivery without compromising on the high-precision standards essential for next-generation tire development.
Traditional Tire Mold Manufacturing
UnionTech provides a comprehensive integration of hardware, software, and materials to build a complete 3D printing for tire mould ecosystem. Our industrial solutions empower manufacturers to achieve digital transformation with high-speed reliability and precision.
The RA series is specifically engineered for the rigorous demands of the tire mold industry. The RA600 is optimized for R&D and specialized customization, while the RA900 serves as a robust production-line platform, enabling companies to build high-capacity digital workshops with an industrial 3D printer fleet.
Our Xtyre series photosensitive resins are developed specifically for tire master mould applications. These advanced SLA 3D printing materials deliver ultra-high precision with minimal groove dimensional deviation and excellent roundness, perfectly aligning with the strictest industry standards.
The UT ONE 3D printing cloud platform optimizes the entire workflow, from automated sample placement to intelligent scheduling. This highly automated software significantly lowers operating complexity while improving overall production line management efficiency.
With over 130 units deployed worldwide, UnionTech offers a comprehensive 3D printing equipment support system, including process design assistance and maintenance. We provide tire manufacturers with expert guidance from initial adoption to full-scale implementation, ensuring a steady journey toward digital excellence.
UnionTech is leading the automotive 3D printed tire market by providing measurable breakthroughs in precision and production logic. Our integrated ecosystem ensures that every tire mold master meets the most rigorous industrial standards while drastically reducing operational complexity.
By leveraging proprietary resin, a dual-laser system, and micron-level liquid level control, microstructures such as tread grooves and ribs are produced with a dimensional accuracy of ±0.1mm. This industrial 3D printer solution ensures circular runout of <0.05mm, sharp corners, and smooth R-angles—meeting the stringent standards of high-precision master moulds to enhance 3D printed tire quality and performance.
Comparison of 3D Printed Tire Master Moulds and Traditional Machining Accuracy
| Key Items | Technology Standard | Detection Methods | Traditional Data | 3D printing Data |
| Surface Roughness Technical Requirements |
Contour arithmetic mean deviation Ra≤4μm | Roughness Meter | Ra≤4.0μm | Ra<3.5μm |
| Judgement standard of tread point deviation | Take N measuring points on the tread (covering 80% of the area of the tread), more than 90% of the point deviation is within ±0.08mm. | Coordinate Measuring Machine | Take N measuring points on the tread (covering 80% of the area of the tread), more than 90% of the point deviation is within ±0.05mm. | Take N measuring points on the tread (covering 80% of the area of the tread), more than 90% of the point deviation is within ±0.03mm. |
| Tire width size technical requirements | Deviation of outer tire model within ±0.2mm; deviation of inner tire width within ±0.15mm. | Coordinate Measuring Machine | Deviation of outer tire model within ±0.2mm; deviation of inner tire width within ±0.15mm. | Outer tyre deviation within ±0.15mm; Inner tyre width deviation within ±0.1mm. |
| Technical requirements of tread steel size | Thickness of the steel piece (minimum 0.4mm) deviation ±0.05mm. | Dial Calipers | The thickness deviation of the steel piece can be controlled at ±0.05mm. | The thickness deviation of the steel piece can be controlled at ±0.03mm. |
| Tread roundness | Roundness deviation within 0.05mm in any cross-section in circumferential direction. | Coordinate Measuring Machine | Roundness deviation within 0.05mm in any cross-section in circumferential direction. |
Roundness deviation of 0.03mm in any cross-section in the circumferential direction. |
Our “one-step printing” eliminates the need for steel inserts, removing the risk of misaligned or missing components. Supporting on-demand, small-batch, and high-variety orders driven directly from digital files, this 3D printing for tire mould approach enables flexible “zero inventory” manufacturing. In addition, it eliminates multiple manual finishing steps, including trimming and deburring, further streamlining the process of your 3D printing equipment.
Efficiency Improvement Comparison
The RA series, combined with the 3D printing cloud platform, eliminates multiple manual steps such as programming, inserting, and modifying. This reduces the production cycle for a master tire mold from 2-3 weeks (approx. 336-504 h) to 2-4 days (approx. 48-96 h), significantly improving production efficiency and responsiveness. Furthermore, the RA900 can print four moulds in parallel, reducing single-mould time to less than 10 h—enhancing delivery accuracy across the board.
An example generated by the RA600 showcased exactly how 3D printing technology reshapes the tire mould industry, delivering highly precise surface quality and intricate pattern details. In contrast, manual methods require meticulous placement of each protrusion and groove, consuming significant time and labor, and increasing costs.
To enhance its tire pattern design capabilities, Lichond Mould introduced additive manufacturing technology with a production line of industrial RA600 SLA 3D printers specially designed for the tire mould industry by UnionTech in 2019, which greatly increased production efficiency and simplified the workflow of tire mould production.
By incorporating 18 sets of UnionTech SLA 3d printer systems, Lichond Mould has ascended to the status of a director company member of the China Rubber Industry Association, establishing itself as a leading brand in the tire mould industry. This strategic move resulted in a remarkable efficiency increase of over 80%.
“3D printing for tire mould technology effectively addresses the diverse and intricate design characteristics of the tire moulds industry, mitigating industry pain points to a considerable extent. Tire mould manufacturers are no longer confronted with challenges related to the complexity of tread patterns and manufacturing processes. This not only enhances the production capabilities of the tire mould industry but also accelerates the iteration speed of tire product development.”
— Xingbin Gao, Supervisor of Industrial North Division, UnionTech
With the successful implementation of 3D printing at Lichond Mould, UnionTech demonstrates its commitment to technological breakthroughs and industry transformation. The tire mould industry is now entering a digital era of iterative industrial development, where innovative solutions like RA600 enable high-precision, efficient production and reduce reliance on traditional, time-consuming methods.
UnionTech is dedicated to advancing 3D printing equipment and materials, intelligent manufacturing, and digital production management systems. Leveraging specialized technology and expertise, UnionTech empowers the tire mould industry to achieve manufacturing excellence and lead the sector’s innovation. The RA600 industrial 3D printer’s capability to produce ultra-high precision tire patterns positions UnionTech as a key player in the transition to 3D tire printing.
“UnionTech, a leader in 3D printing for industrial transformation, is dedicated to helping customers achieve milestones through innovative thinking and adaptability. UnionTech’s technological breakthroughs are the rapid advancement of additive manufacturing in the tire mould sector, placing the company at the forefront of 3D printing technology.”
—— Chao Wang, Vice General Manager, UnionTech
UnionTech provides the digital foundation for the tire mould industry’s transformation, delivering efficient, high-precision SLA 3D printer solutions supported by a comprehensive 3D printing cloud platform. These capabilities also open new possibilities for future innovations in the automotive and emerging 3D printed tire markets. Ready to transform your tire mould production? Contact us today to learn how UnionTech’s SLA solution can enhance your efficiency and precision.
