Mold designers and builders try to use the typical methods of minimizing wear—such as using differential metals; using low-wear coatings; specifying high metal hardness thus equating high hardness with low wear; designing shutoffs with high angles thus avoiding locking shutoff angles; and, many more concepts that their experience leads them to believe works best in [...]
The best solution to the problem of movement causing stress was very simple. If component A is forced against component B thus putting both components under stress, remove the stress. Removing the stress can be accomplished by a revolutionary principle and that is to incorporate designs that allow components to move in the mold.Specifically, if [...]
CGTech’s (Irvine, CA) next version of VERICUT CNC machine simulation and optimization software, VERICUT 7.1, features significant enhancements to reduce the time required for manufacturing engineers to easily develop, analyze, inspect and document the CNC programming and machining process. Along with proactively adding new features, CGTech developers and engineers focused on addressing hundreds of customer-driven [...]
SensAble Technologies, a leading provider of touch-enabled 3D modeling applications, dental restoration design and fabrication solutions and haptic devices, announced the availability of a new version of its FreeForm® 3D modeling system that streamlines digital workflows for both designers and engineers who create complex, organically shaped products. This software allows companies to deliver on the [...]
Delcam (Birmingham, UK) has introduced a new data repair module for its FeatureCAM feature-based CAM system. The module, which is based on functionality from Delcam’s PowerSHAPE CAD software, will allow FeatureCAM users to repair poor-quality CAD models from a wide range of design software. Once repaired, the models will be able to take full advantage [...]
Design for manufacturability is not a new concept, nor is the use of digital solutions for the many steps in mold design. Yet it remains a daunting task to rapidly produce cost-effective manufacturing molds for complex organically-shaped products. […]
1. Intricate details involved in part manufacture. The amount of effort and engineering (mechanical, manufacturing, industrial, chemical, metallurgy/materials, polymer, fluid dynamics, thermodynamics, and even electrical)—regardless of required part tolerance—that goes into each and every mold to produce a quality, aesthetically pleasing, flash-free injection molded component. […]
It is big news when an OEM decides to move a substantial number of existing molds from one molding operation (either their own in-house/captive facility or an outsourced molder) to a selected custom molder. […]
A transfer program management team from the receiving molder usually consists of the following personnel: […]
The following five-step, streamlined process is indicative of the associated tasks involved. […]