To Create a Typical Multi-Cavity Mold
1. Create a mold model in Mold Design that contains a combination of reference model or models and workpieces.
2. Create a mold layout assembly.
3. On the
Mold Layout tab, click
Locate Cavity. The
Layout dialog box opens.
4. Select the previously created mold model as the cavity model for population.
5. Select a population rule such as Single, Rectangular, Circular, or Variable and define the location of the cavities in the Layout dialog box.
6. To select and assemble a mold base, click
Mold Bases.
7. To select and assemble an injection machine, click
Injection Molding Machine.
8. Complete the cavity design in Mold Design. Create parting surfaces and volumes to define the individual mold components. Split the workpiece with these volumes and surfaces. Create all necessary cavity components and features.
9. Create instances of the reference part if the reference part geometry is different in different cavities. Use Merge Part family table item when the instances of the reference part should merge their geometry from instances of the design part.
10. Create instances of the mold model, if the geometry in the cavities is different. You can add any component of the mold assembly (including the reference part) as a component item into the mold FAMILY TABLE to be able to suppress, resume, or replace the component in the mold instances. You can add any mold feature (including parting surface and volume features) to be able to suppress or resume the feature in the mold instances.
11. Use Switch External References to Instances or Configure Assembly Components family tables functionality to create instances of extracted components with proper geometry that corresponds to geometry of mold assembly instances where these extracted components are used. (You can use these commands also to create molds with exchangeable inserts.)
12. Create instances of the mold model, if the geometry in the cavities is different.
13. In Assembly, replace desired mold models that have been populated by the cavity layout function with an instance from that model.
14. Create runners, waterlines, and ejector pin holes. Assemble ejector pins from the catalog. Assemble any additional components and create features using the standard assembly commands.