Solid Edge Plastic Mold Project

Solid Edge Mold Tooling - Electrode Design - Creating a Plastic Mold Project - V19
CREATING A PLASTIC MOLD PROJECT - V19

Written by Web Master
Friday, 15 June 2007
Introduction
This tutorial provides step-by-step instructions for creating a plastic 4-cavity mold project using Mold Tooling and Solid Edge.
As you work through this tutorial, you will construct the mold base shown in the illustration.
In this project you will select and reorient the Solid Edge part for which the mold is designed, create the core and cavity inserts, pattern the
inserts, create the core and cavity parting plates, and finally create the mold base.
This tutorial does not demonstrate everything you can do with Mold Tooling and Solid Edge. Its purpose is to show you how powerful the Mold
Tooling commands are, and to get you started so you can learn more on your own.
Start a new assembly
Mold Tooling requires that you start with a new, empty assembly.
On the Main toolbar, click the New button.
On the New dialog box, click the More tab to display both English and Metric templates, and select Normmet.asm.
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Note: This tutorial uses metric units of measure.
Start a new Mold Tooling project
You start work in Mold Tooling by first defining a new project using the Create Mold Tooling Project command.
You use this command to define a new project name, folder location, and basic tooling preferences. Mold Tooling creates a new folder with
your project name under the Location folder. The new documents you create for the project are stored in this project folder to make managing
and editing the project easier.
On the Solid Edge Mold Tooling toolbar, click the Create Mold Tooling Project button.
On the Create Mold Tooling Project dialog box, define the following project parameters, as shown in the illustration:
Name: Project1
Location: <Choose a folder according to your needs>
Mold Orientation: With ejector plates below
Length Units: mm
When you finish defining the project parameters, click OK.
The system starts the Select Part command, but click Cancel, because before you choose a part to mold, you will set additional project
preferences.
Set additional preferences

On the Solid Edge Mold Tooling toolbar, click the Mold Tooling Options button.
On the Mold Tooling Options dialog box, take a few moments to explore the various settings available.
On the Mold Base tab, set the Default Standard option to LKM, then click OK.
Later in the tutorial, when you define the mold base, LKM is the default standard.
Select the part
In the next few steps you will specify the part, define the scale factor, and orient the part properly.
On the Solid Edge Mold Tooling toolbar, click the Select Part button.
On the Open File dialog box, set the Look In folder to the <Mold Tooling Dir>\Program\Tutor\Samples folder, select the Part1.par file, then click
the Open button.
The system processes for a few moments, then the part you selected is temporarily positioned in the assembly window as shown.
Also notice that entries are added to the Mold Tooling PathFinder tab on EdgeBar.
Do not click the Finish button yet.
If the part is not shaded, on the Main toolbar, click the Shaded With Visible Edges button.

Define the shrinkage rate
On the Select Part ribbon bar, click the Part Shrinkage Step button.
Notice that you can specify a shrink factor or a scale value. Also notice that you can specify whether the shrink factor or scale value is applied
uniformly or with unique values for the X, Y, and Z axes.
On the ribbon bar, ensure that the Shrink Factor and Uniform Shrinkage options are set, and that the default value of 0.01 is set.
Prepare to reorient the part
You will now reorient the part to match the correct demolding direction.
On the Select Part ribbon bar, click the Orientation Step button.
The Part environment opens and new options are added to the ribbon bar to help orient the part. Also notice that Draft Face Analysis colors
have been applied to the part. This can assist in determining the best orientation for the part.

Finish reorienting the part
On the Select Part ribbon bar, in the X Value box, type 180, then press the ENTER key to rotate the part 180 degrees about the X axis.
The part is rotated as shown in the illustration.
If your part is oriented differently, click the Reset button and try reorienting the part again.
On the Select Part ribbon bar, click the Finish button.
You now have your part ready to be incorporated into the parting zone.
Save the file
On the Main toolbar, click the Save button to save the file.
Start the Parting Zone command

In the next few steps you will use the Parting Zone command to create the parting surfaces to build core and cavity inserts for the part you
placed.
On the Solid Edge Mold Tooling toolbar, click the Parting Zone button.
The system processes for a few moments, then the Parting Zone ribbon bar is displayed.
On the Parting Zone ribbon bar, ensure that the Core/Cavity Insert Mold button is selected.
In the graphic window, select the part as shown in the illustration, then click the Accept button on the ribbon bar.
Review the inserts' dimensions
On the Parting Zone ribbon bar, click the XY Dimensions Step button and review the available options.
Notice that options are available for defining the X and Y length for the inserts. For this tutorial, the default values are appropriate.

Review the thickness and define the opening point
On the Parting Zone ribbon bar, click the Thickness Step button.
Notice that options are available for defining the core and cavity thickness. For this tutorial, the default values are appropriate.
On the Parting Zone ribbon bar, click the Opening Point button.
In the graphic window, position the cursor as shown in the illustration, and select the vertex on the outside face of the part, using QuickPick if
necessary. The Z coordinate of this point defines the global opening plane of the mold.
Finish defining the insert
On the Parting Zone ribbon bar, click the Preview and then the Finish button.
The core and cavity insert plates are created and placed in the project assembly.

Notice that new entries for these parts are added to the Mold Tooling PathFinder tab on EdgeBar.
On the View menu, click Fit to fit the parts in the assembly window.
Save the file
Review the assembly in EdgeBar
On Assembly Commands toolbar, click the Select Tool button.
Position the cursor over the new entries in the Mold Tooling tab on the EdgeBar tool.
Notice that the part also highlights in the assembly window.
Start the Mold Tooling Pattern command

In the next few steps you will use the Mold Tooling Pattern command to create a rectangular pattern of the inserts you constructed earlier.
On the Solid Edge Mold Tooling toolbar, click the Pattern Mold Component button.
Ensure that CoreCavitySet is displayed in the Select list.
Select the parting zone in either of two ways; in the graphic window, as shown in the illustration, or in the Mold Tooling PathFinder tab of
EdgeBar, by clicking the PartingZone object.
After you select the parting zone, on the ribbon bar, click the Accept button. A preview of the patterned components is shown.
Define the pattern parameters
On the ribbon bar, set the following pattern options:
X: 2
Y: 2
X Spacing: 20 mm
Y Spacing: 20 mm
Set the Auto Center option, which centers the element set on the mold.

Note: You may have to stretch the Solid Edge window to see the Auto Center option.
For a clearer view of the pattern distribution, press <Ctrl-T> to reorient the view to the top. Press <Ctrl-J> to return to the diametric view, or
<Ctrl-I> to display an isometric view.
Edit the pattern occurrences
On the Mold Tooling Pattern ribbon bar, click the Edit Pattern Occurrence Step button.
Notice that coordinate systems are displayed at the center of each set of patterned components.
Rotate two of the pattern occurrences
In the graphic window, select the two coordinate systems on the lower right, as shown in the illustration above. To do this, select one of the
coordinate systems, then hold the CTRL key down, then select the other coordinate system.
Notice that new options are now available in the ribbon bar.
On the Mold Tooling Pattern ribbon bar, in the Rotation list, click the 180 degree option.
Finish the pattern

Notice that the coordinate systems you selected have been updated to indicate the new orientation of the inserts, as shown in the illustration
above.
On the Mold Tooling Pattern ribbon bar, click the Runner Bar Creation Step button.
This command can automatically create runner bars for you, but this project does not require them.
On the Mold Tooling Pattern ribbon bar, make sure that the Add/Remove Runner Bar button is turned off.
On the Mold Tooling Pattern ribbon bar, click the Finish button.
The system processes for a few seconds, and the patterned components are constructed as shown below.
Fit the view and save the file

On the View menu, click Fit to fit the contents in the window.
In the new pattern, notice that the reference object is darker than the other pattern occurrences. If you change the reference object, the other
pattern occurrences update to reflect those changes.
Start the Parting Zone command
In the next few steps, you will use the Parting Zone command to create core and cavity integer plates.
On the Solid Edge Mold Tooling toolbar, click the Parting Zone button.
On the Parting Zone ribbon bar, click the Integer Plate Mold button.
On the ribbon bar, in the Select list, set the CoreCavitySet option.
Select an element set

Select the PartingZone1 Element Set object, either in the graphic window, as shown, or on EdgeBar.
On the Parting Zone ribbon bar, click the Accept button.
Review main dimensions
On the Parting Zone ribbon bar, click the XY Dimensions Step button.
Notice that the ribbon bar allows you to edit the dimension of the integer plates in the Length X and Length Y fields and displays the size of the
input items in the Input Item XY box.
On the ribbon bar, click the Options button.
On the Options dialog box, ensure that the Clearance Between Parting Plates option is set to 0 millimeters, then click OK.
Check core and cavity thickness options

On the Parting Zone ribbon bar, click the Thickness Step button.
Notice the display of the size of your selection in Z.
You can also set the Z position of the mold opening plane. Leave it unchanged as it is automatically calculated for most cases.
Preview and finish the command
On the ribbon bar, click the Preview button.
The system processes for a few moments and the integer plates are created as shown in the illustration.
On the ribbon bar, click the Finish button.
Start the Mold Base command

In the next few steps, you will use the Mold Base command to create the mold base, as shown in the illustration.
On the Solid Edge Mold Tooling toolbar, click the Mold Base button.
Notice that the Mold Standard Step is active.
On the ribbon bar, ensure that the following options are set:
Standard: LKM
Type: Side Gate
Description: Al Type
Specify the mold size
On the ribbon bar, click the Mold Size Step button.
On the ribbon bar, ensure that the Size option is set to 300 x 600.
Preview and finish the mold base

On the ribbon bar, click the Preview button.
The system processes for a few moments and the mold base is created as shown in the illustration.
On the ribbon bar, click the Finish button.
The parting plates you created are inserted in the new mold base.
Save the file
On the Main toolbar, click the Save button to save the completed file.
Congratulations!
You have completed the tutorial. To learn more about working with Mold Tooling, you can do the following:
Practice constructing similar molds on your own.

Work through the next mold tooling tutorial where you will learn how to add standard components and place other manually.
Last Updated ( Tuesday, 13 October 2009 )
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Solid Edge Mold Tooling - Electrode Design - Creating a Plastic Mold Project - V19

CREATING A PLASTIC MOLD PROJECT - V19

Start a new assembly

On the Main toolbar, click the New button.

http://www.semoldtooling.com/index2.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=12&pop=1&page=0&Itemid=31[4/11/2012 5:41:51 PM]

Note: This tutorial uses metric units of measure.

Start a new Mold Tooling project

When you finish defining the project parameters, click OK.

Set additional preferences

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Select the part

Do not click the Finish button yet.

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Define the shrinkage rate

Prepare to reorient the part

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Finish reorienting the part

The part is rotated as shown in the illustration.

On the Select Part ribbon bar, click the Finish button.

Save the file

Start the Parting Zone command

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Review the inserts' dimensions

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Review the thickness and define the opening point

Finish defining the insert

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Save the file

Review the assembly in EdgeBar

On Assembly Commands toolbar, click the Select Tool button.

Notice that the part also highlights in the assembly window.

Start the Mold Tooling Pattern command

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Ensure that CoreCavitySet is displayed in the Select list.

Define the pattern parameters

On the ribbon bar, set the following pattern options:

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Edit the pattern occurrences

Rotate two of the pattern occurrences

Finish the pattern

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Fit the view and save the file

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Start the Parting Zone command

Select an element set

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On the Parting Zone ribbon bar, click the Accept button.

Review main dimensions

On the ribbon bar, click the Options button.

Check core and cavity thickness options

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Notice the display of the size of your selection in Z.

Preview and finish the command

On the ribbon bar, click the Preview button.

On the ribbon bar, click the Finish button.

Start the Mold Base command

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Notice that the Mold Standard Step is active.

Specify the mold size

On the ribbon bar, click the Mold Size Step button.

Preview and finish the mold base

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On the ribbon bar, click the Preview button.