To Define a Mold Base Assembly

A mold base is the set of plates and major components that hold the core/cavity insert.

1. Click EMX Assembly >

Assembly Definition to open the Mold Base Definition dialog box and define a new mold base assembly. You can also open default mold base assemblies and supported supplier components from this dialog box.

2. Define the following variables in the Mold Base Definition dialog box:

◦ Set the unit of measurement as mm or inch. The default unit of measurement is the same as the project assembly. It is possible to use several units of measure in an assembly such as metric plates in an inch assembly.

◦ Select the size from the list of mold base sizes. Existing size-dependent component dimensions are automatically updated when the size is changed.

3. Click an icon at the top of the dialog box to access other dialog boxes in which you can define the component:

◦

—Selects a component to delete. The component is highlighted in red. Click Yes at the prompt to delete it.

A dynamic view of the current mold base definition appears in the preview window. From the preview window you can view or position new components, and identify components to modify or delete.

4. Right-click a component in the preview window to add guides and plates or to modify and delete the component. Double-click a component to open the Component dialog box. A summary tree appears under the dynamic view. This summary tree contains all defined components inside of the mold base definition. The tree is divided into four nodes:

◦ Plates—All plates, including the type, the major dimensions and the material value

◦ Guides—All guides, including the ordering number and the number of assembled instances. Additionally the color of the selected guide pattern appears

◦ Screws and Pins—All screws and pins, including the ordering number and the number of assembled instances

◦ Equipment—All other equipment components, including the ordering number and the number of assembled instances

5. Right-click a node to add guides or plates or to modify and delete the component. Double-click a component to open the Component dialog box.

7. Select FH (fixed half) or MH (moving half) to toggle the view for the bottom preview window.

8. Select or clear the Show Cavity check box to show or hide the cavity insert assembly outline in the top and side view.

9. To add a new plate, right-click an existing plate and select either Add Plate Above or Add Plate Below. The new plate is placed either above or underneath between the selected plate. You can also select the new plate and right-click outside the stack to place the new plate on top of the Moving Half or Fixed Half stack. The Plate dialog box opens.

10. Alternatively, add a new plate, by selecting a plate type from the list under the summary tree, and then select an existing plate. The new plate is placed between the selected plate and the splitting plane. You can also select the new plate and click outside the stack to place the new plate on top of the Moving Half or Fixed Half stack. The Plate dialog box opens.

11. To add guide components right-click a plate and click Add Guide.

12. Add any of the following types of components to the assembly:

a. When you select a component, a dialog box opens for the selected component in which you can define the component. Equipment components are automatically placed in the correct location. Before you add a guide component, select the active main guide pattern on the left side of the dialog box.

c. Choose additional components such as screws, stop system components, and so on to add from the default component list under the top preview window:

d. Define the new components in the dialog box. The components are automatically placed.

13. Select

Front or

Top to toggle view type. The view changes from side to top view. In the top view all major patterns are displayed as circles and rectangles.

14. The summary tree is updated and the list of patterns inside the mold base appears. The major nodes are listed below:

◦ Guide Patterns—A list of all guides related patterns, including the number of active pattern members, the visibility status, the width and length, and the number in the width and length direction.

◦ Other Patterns—A list of all other patterns, including the number of active pattern members, the visibility status, the width and length, and the number in the width and length direction.

15. To change pattern settings, either double-click a pattern inside the view or the summary tree or right-click a pattern. The Pattern dialog box opens.

16. Select a guide pattern from the summary tree under the bottom preview window. There are four main guide patterns

and two ejector guide patterns (

) in the list. A dialog box for the selected guide in which you can set pattern data, opens.

17. Select a screw or stop system pattern from the list under the bottom preview window. A dialog box for the selected item opens. Define the pattern before placing a new component:

18. Click the list box next to the zoom tool to select the active main guide pattern. A new guide component is added to the active pattern that appears in the bottom preview window. Set the correct pattern before adding a new guide component.

19. Click icons at the bottom of the dialog box to access other component definition dialog boxes: