TrueShape combines 3D extrusion of metal pastes with CNC machining and sintering for automated injection-mold tool production in H13 and P20 tool steels.
DeployStage 4 of 5
Commercial system deployed. Angstrom Group acquired Mantle in November 2025 to scale operations.
Updated 4 Oct 2025·Checked 10 Oct·0 updates this week
Milestones
Next · Angstrom integration and capacity expansion
Mantle founded2015Complete.
Emerge from stealth with $13M Series AFeb 2021Complete.
Series B funding roundSep 2021Complete.
Commercial P-200 system availableSep 2022Complete.
Series C funding roundJul 2024Complete.
Acquisition by Angstrom Group4 Oct 2025Complete.
Angstrom integration and capacity expansionTarget 2026Current milestone.
2026Angstrom integration and capacity expansion (next)
2027Integration into Tier-1 automotive supply chain
Current obstacles
Scale-up to high volumeHybrid process needs capital-intensive equipment. Angstrom acquisition enables scale, but ramping output is multi-year.
Cost competitiveness for simple toolsFor simple tools, cost premium over conventional machining may remain. Adoption needs toolmaker buy-in on long-term value.
Binder removal and part densityThe sintering process must completely remove the organic binder without leaving voids. Incomplete removal or voids reduce strength and tool life.
Physics limits
Build volume limits part sizeThe P-200 is 200 × 200 × 150 mm. Larger tool steel components cannot be printed in one piece and must be tiled or split.
Shrinkage during sinteringMetal powder beds shrink during sintering (binder removal and consolidation). Predicting and compensating for shrinkage is difficult, affecting accuracy of complex parts.
Grain orientation and anisotropySintered steel does not have the uniform grain structure of forged or rolled tool steel. Mechanical properties may vary with direction, affecting tool life in high-stress applications.
How it works
4 parts
Extrusion
Layer-by-layer paste extrusion
Metal powders (H13 or P2X) mixed with binder are extruded from a nozzle in layers. Each layer is ~0.1–0.2 mm.
Machining
In-process CNC finishing
After layers, a CNC spindle mills the surface for final geometry and finish. This avoids the poor surface quality of raw printed parts.
Sintering
Furnace consolidation
Printed parts load into the F-200, heated to 1200°C+. Binder burns away and metal particles weld, yielding strength matching wrought steel.
Design
Conformal cooling and complexity
The hybrid process enables cooling channels impossible to machine and undercuts needing no tool changes. This flexibility saves time.
Hybrid metal 3D printing, CNC machining, tool steel molding
Mantle develops hybrid metal 3D printing systems combining extrusion, CNC machining and sintering for tool steel tooling. Acquired by Angstrom Group in November 2025.
Founded 2015; Series A $13M (2021), Series B $25M (2021), Series C $20M (2024). Total $61.5M+.
TrueShape: hybrid 3D printing + CNC for H13/P20 tool steel. Reduces tooling lead times by 64–84%.
Acquired by Angstrom Group (Nov 2025). Scaling across 41 facilities for automotive and industrial.
