Product category:
Electrical design software
News Release from: Delcam | Subject: PS-Moldmaker
Edited by the Engineeringtalk Editorial
Team on 14 December 2005
Parametric component added to mould
software
In the latest release of PS-Moldmaker software for the 3D design of injection moulds for plastic components, Delcam introduces a parametric component incorporating power features.
In the latest release of its PS-Moldmaker software for the 3D design of injection moulds for plastic components, Delcam has introduced a parametric component incorporating power features The release also provides an extra wizard for designing mould locks, the ability to create stepped split surfaces in the Die Wizard, and faster creation of 2D drawings from the 3D model
The parametric component reacts automatically as it is placed in an assembly, adding necessary fit-features to the connecting components.
For example, if a mould designer adds an ejector pin to the mould assembly, the software will automatically create the corresponding holes in the plates through which it passes.
The tolerances between the various components are defined automatically.
Thus, a sealing-fit hole is placed in the die block and the necessary clearance allowance added to the holes in the other plates through which the pin passes.
Power features maintain relationships in a similar way to parametric objects in other CAD systems so if the pin moves all the associated holes move with it.
It retains its ability to suggest appropriate sizes for components defined with power features and will recommend standard sizes whenever available from the catalogues within the system.
The software will still recommend the nearest alternative component when changes are made to the design, rather than using simple mathematical changes to the component dimensions.
This reduces the need for non-standard components.
Mould locks are components used to lock the mould in position during the injection cycle.
The Mould Lock Wizard provides a similar automatic method for defining these parts to the previous wizards for the design of slides and cooling channels.
The locks can be created and edited individually, or the complete set can be generated together using common predefined layouts, with automatic mirroring of the initial assembly to create the others in the set.
Stepped split surfaces are used in moulds to give a smaller contact area and therefore higher pressure at a given load over the contact area.
This reduces flashing in the final component.
To create a stepped split surface, the Die Wizard generates the split curve automatically in the usual way.
The user then has the option to specify the land distance required from the component and the angle at which the split surface needs to fall away.
The two halves of the mould can, and generally do, have different split surface profiles, but both are created as a matching pair by the same wizard operation.
Many mould design projects need as much time to create the 2D drawings as to generate the 3D model.
Thus, an outline general arrangement drawing and a full set of component drawings are created automatically from company-specific templates as the computer model is developed.
This release enables quicker initial production of drawings and faster associative updating of the drawings if the design is changed.
To reduce the need for manual dimensioning, each component drawing includes a bitmap image of the part with a table showing its key dimensions. Request a free brochure from Delcam ...
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