Welcome back to the third and final installment in this blog series about the Additive App Suite by Trinckle.
Throughout this series, we've explored how Trinckle's Additive App Suite is changing the way manufacturers approach custom tooling and shop-floor solutions. In the first installment, we examined applications focused on work holding, tool organization, and other practical manufacturing aids. In the second, we looked at tools designed to streamline the creation of protective plugs, masking devices, robotic grippers, and drill guides—all without the need for extensive CAD expertise.
A common theme has emerged throughout these applications: reducing the time and complexity required to design functional parts for additive manufacturing. By replacing traditional modeling workflows with guided, purpose-built design tools, the Additive App Suite enables manufacturers to quickly develop solutions that improve productivity, consistency, and efficiency on the shop floor.
In this final installment, the first app we will review is the Logistics Trays App. This app is ideal for designing transportation tooling for custom parts, or parts that don't fit neatly into regular trays or boxes.
We begin by determining the overall size of the tray and the parameters of the grid. The grid in the image below is 600mm by 400mm and 15mm thick. Each cell in the grid is 20mm by 20mm.
A basic grid for a logistics tray.
Next, the workpieces that need to be transported are imported into the app. This also where the workpieces can be oriented depending on the application. Laying parts flat will allow for easier tray stacking, while positioning parts upright will fit more on an individual tray. There's no right or wrong answer for this, it all depends on your needs.
Workpieces oriented vertically on a logistics tray.
Lastly, users have the option to adjust the dimensions of the support block (translucent in the image above) for each workpiece. Support blocks can also be hollowed out to save printing time and material, or they can be merged together to ensure parts of the same assembly are transported together.
Ensuring the correct parts are delivered to the correct location is crucial, especially in manufacturing facilities that have large catalogs if different part numbers. One solution is to label the box, bin, or tray that the part is transported in. However, this solution is still open to error if a part is placed in the wrong container. A better solution would be to label the parts themselves, and that's exactly what the Break-off Label and Freeform Label Apps do!
The Break-off Label App allows users to add physical tabs to a part. These tabs can have a part number, cage code, or any other text printed on them. The get printed with the part, and when it's time for final assembly, they snap off with ease leaving a small dimple as the only evidence. Just click, type, and print!
A part with a Break-off Label.
The Freeform Labels App works very similarly. Labels will display whatever text is inputted. The location of the label is defined by clicking a start and end point, which means labels can be placed anywhere including cavities and curved surfaces! Users then have the choice to either emboss (text pops out) or deboss (text is pressed in) the label. These labels stay with the part for its's entire life, with no risk of ink smudging or stickers falling off.
A part with a debossed label.
As we wrap up this series, it's clear that the strength of Trinckle's Additive App Suite lies in its ability to simplify the design of application-specific tooling. Whether you're creating work holding fixtures, robotic grippers, drill guides, logistics trays, or part labels, each app follows the same philosophy: eliminate unnecessary CAD work and empower users to generate production-ready designs in minutes rather than hours.
For manufacturers embracing additive manufacturing, this means less time spent designing routine tooling and more time focused on solving production challenges. Engineers can standardize common workflows, operators can create the tools they need without specialized modeling expertise, and organizations can respond more quickly to changing manufacturing demands.
The Additive App Suite demonstrates that additive manufacturing isn't just about producing end-use parts—it's about enabling smarter, faster, and more efficient manufacturing processes. By automating the design of the tools that keep production moving, Trinckle is helping manufacturers unlock the full potential of additive manufacturing across the shop floor.