Unigraphics Nx7.5 - Mold Wizard

c c c The Mold Wizard application assists you in designing plastic injection molds and other molds. You can create 3D models of: ï? ï? ï? ï? ï? ï?

pavities pores Glides mifters Gub-inserts Mold hardware

By default, all models are associative to the original product model. The Mold Wizard application was developed and tested with continuous input from mold designers and manufacturers. This ensures that the application meets the needs and priorities of mold makers, and answers real-world design challenges. Mold Wizard has design tools and procedures to automate the difficult and complex tasks involved in mold design. The application saves you time throughout the design process and provides full 3D models to manufacturing. If you alter the product design, you lose very little time because changes to the product model are associative to the mold design elements. ÿ is the process of creating a core and cavity based on a plastic part model. The parting process is an important part of the plastic mold design, especially for parts with complicated shapes. The Parting module automates this process by providing key tools. Mold bases and component libraries are included from a variety of catalogs. pustom components, including sliders and lifters, sub-inserts, and electrodes, are also provided in the Gtandard Parts module. The Gtandard Parts module allows you to associatively place components with fitted pockets. Mold Wizard provides a user-friendly way to manage different kinds of standard parts. You can use the standard parts in the library, and customize the standard parts libraries as required. ÿ To use Mold Wizard effectively, you should be familiar with mold design and common NX commands. In the Modeling application, you should be familiar with: ï? ï? ï? ï? ï?

Deature modeling Dree form modeling Gketching purves mayers

In the Assemblies application, you should understand and be able to:

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Yse the . phange the display and work part. Add or create a component. preate and replace a reference set. preate WAVE linked geometry.

!" To get the maximum benefit from Mold Wizard, you design process should follow planning and execution steps like the following: 1.? preate or obtain a solid model. 2.? Analyze the model for moldability. Yse the validation tools described in Preparing the model. 3.? Plan the design of the tooling. Decide on the parts to be included in the mold and number and arrangement of cavities. Allow for slides, lifter, ejectors, cooling, and so on. 4.? Initialize a Mold Wizard mold design project. When you initialize, you specify: O? The project name and folder location. O? The naming rules for component parts. O? The units of measure. O? å ptional) The molded part material and shrinkage factor. 5.? Define the mold coordinate system for each product in the mold: O? The orientation of the part in the mold. O? The principal parting plane. 6.? If necessary, define the shrinkage factor. 7.? Define a workpiece for each product. # Even if you plan to machine cavities directly in the mold plates, it is useful to define a workpiece. 8.? If you have multiple cavities, plan the cavity layout in the mold base. 9.? Design shut-off geometry. 10.?Define the parting edges on the model and create parting surfaces. 11.?Add a mold base. 12.?Add hardware, ejectors, slides, lifters, sub-inserts, gates, runners, and cooling lines. 13.?å ptional) Design electrodes. 14.?preate pockets in mold plates and other bodies to accommodate the hardware and other accessories you added. 15.?pompose a bill of materials. 16.?preate drawings.

c! "$ % If you are starting Mold Wizard for the first time, see the important information in Gtarting Mold Wizard in NX. "" You can use most Mold Wizard commands when the NX Modeling or Gateway applications are running.

If you are in the Drafting, or pAM application, change to the Gateway application before using Mold Wizard. Two commands, ! and &, require you to start the Drafting application. You are notified when it is necessary to change applications. ÿ'"ÿ( Warning: Do not use a disk root directory, such as p or , as a directory for a mold tooling project. Gome essential operations fail if you initialize a project in a root directory, or attempt to add standard parts to a project in a root directory. r" Giemens PmM Goftware recommends that you install the engineering database in a location outside the default ¢¢¢ location. You can put the library in shared location on your network, and point to it with the environment variable c )c, for the following reasons: Everyone on the network has access to the same customized parts. You don't have to replace the libraries every time you install an NX upgrade; the same library can be installed on time for all of the maintenance releases of an NX version. ï? You don't have to un-install; you can upgrade the library by overwriting it with new files. ï? ï?

Warning: n 64-bit machines you set the c )c variable. If you get an error message that the file ¢ is not found on a 64-bit machine, verify that the c )c variable is set to the correct folder. %!r "" *+,"( If you are running Microsoft Windows ®, you can convert Xess files ånon-Windows format) to Microsoft Excel ® files, or convert Microsoft Excel files to Xess files. To set up the Microsoft Excel conversion, copy the moldwizard_add_in.xla file from the directory into your p ÿ directory, or p directory. This file contains the conversion macros necessary to convert file formats. Tip: You must set Microsoft Excel macro security to a level that permit the macros to run. Medium security gives you a choice of runnig macros at execution time. Dor additional details, see Xess-Excel ponversion. ! Warning:

Do use the ÿ! command options to delete unused expressions. In a Mold Wizard assembly, there are many expressions that are used only after you add components. % You can customize Mold Wizard by adjusting the default preference settings in . Dor more information, see Getting Defaults and Preferences. "" Geveral of the dialog boxes have translucency sliders. The Mold.V1 workpiece is translucent. In order to get the benefit of these features, make sure that the "" check box is selected in he - ÿ" dialog box, on the Visual page.

%!" % You can use customer defaults to customize Mold Wizard. The Mold Wizard defaults and preferences are documented in &!.". / r. /.. Dor more information on Mold Wizard defaults and preferences, click here.

(c0 Menu $ĺĺĺ

ÿ!( 1 You should carefully inspect and correct the product model before you start a Mold Wizard project. You must have a good quality product model to produce a good quality mold design. ÿ-2Ghows you potential draft problems, undercuts, and wall thickness variations. Dor more information, click here. r 12Identifies several problems such as corrupt data, self intersection, gaps, overlaps, spikes or cuts, and tolerance issues. Dor more information, see the NX Analysis online help for Examining geometry. &12Improves the quality of some imported models. Dor more information, click here. %" The Mold Wizard parting process can use either a solid model or a sewn set of surfaces that do not form a solid.

When possible, use a solid product model because it will produce solid cavity and core models. Golid cavity and core models provide some advantages in drafting and pAM processing. Note: In most cases, it is worth the additional effort to correct product models with geometry problems and sew them into a solid. Gome product models do not have correct draft åmold taper) or designs for efficient construction of mold shut-off areas. You should correct the product model to have exactly the geometry that you want in the finished cavity and core. If you begin with a moldable product, you can: Gimplify the parting process. Eliminate a source of errors that you may encounter if you add draft to individual tooling solids. ï? Get ready-to-manufacture cavities and cores.

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% / Gtart the Mold Wizard application before you open any parts to assures that the proper assembly load options are set so that interpart geometry links and expressions function properly. You can start Mold Wizard from the NX ÿ state from: ï? ï?

The !!" toolbar. The % command button to the % toolbar.

!( !!" ï?

In the ÿ state, right-click the toolbar area and choose !!".

The !!" toolbar is displayed. The command appears on the toolbar.

!(% ï?

In the ÿ state, on the % toolbar, choose !ĺ ĺ%ĺ%.

The % button is displayed.

G

To st t , do one of t e following: ï? ï?

. n t e à

tool , click plick G and select àà

ĺ .

The commands are: ï? ï? ï? ï? ï? ï? ï? ï? ï? ï? ï? ï? ï? ï? ï? ï? ï? ï? ï?

ï? ï? ï?

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c D GG G G r G G Ê r O? O?

O? à O? O? ´ à (by default, not displayed) Y

ÿ3rc cc c c c ÿ'" verview How To

ptions Related Topics

You can use the c ÿ'" command to: ï? ï?

preate a new mold design project. Add additional products to an existing project to create a .

!'" When you create a new project, you can specify: ï? ï? ï? ï? ï?

A assembly Ynits The path to the project part files The project name. Material and shrinkage factor

When you initialize a project, the solid product body becomes the parent of a series of associatively linked bodies. You can replace the product model file with a revised file and update the mold assembly with minimal loss. $ You can use the c ÿ'" command to add another product to an open tooling assembly. You can add as many products as you require in one injection mold.

(c0 Application Mold Wizard Toolbar ĺc ÿ'"

c ÿ'" verview How To


Note: You do not need to have the product model open when you begin a mold design project. 1.?

n the toolbar, click c ÿ'"

.

2.? In the !ÿ$ dialog box, navigate to and select the product model for which you want to define a mold assembly. 3.? If you are prompted to select the product body, select one of the two or more bodies in the product model part file. 4.? å 5.? å 6.? å 7.? å 8.? å 9.? å 10.?å 11.?å 12.?å

ptional) In the ÿ( box, type a path, or, click . ptional) In the box, type a name for the project. ptional) Drom the list, select a defined material and shrinkage factor. ptional) Drom the list, select a template assembly structure. ptional) In the %(4 box, type the shrinkage factor. ptional) Drom the list, select a template assembly for the project. ptional) In the group, assign attributes to the top level assembly part. ptional) In the c ÿ'" dialog box, in the % group, select the project units. ptional) In the % group, select the ! check box to open the ÿ dialog box after you finish specifying project parameters.

Tip: You can use the ÿ dialog box to verify or change the default file names of the assembly component parts. 13.?plick 5. Warning: After the template assembly is renamed, the parts are saved to disk. You can close the parts without saving them if you want to change the settings. !" When you load additional product models to a tooling assembly, the units, project path, and project name remain the same and the Initialize Project dialog box is not displayed. 1.?

pen an existing tooling assembly.

2.? n the tool bar, click c ÿ'" . 3.? In the !ÿ$ dialog box, navigate to and select the product model that you want to add to the mold assembly. 4.? Repeat this process until all of the family product models have been added. paution: To create additional of a product that is in the mold assembly, use the command. ! !'" 1.? Gtart the Mold Wizard application. 2.? phoose $ĺ!. Tip: If you find it more convenient, you can also click c ÿ'" at this step.

3.? In the ! dialog box, select the component of the project and click 5.

c ÿ'" verview How To


Note: Gee pommon dialog box options for common options not discussed here. ÿ"

Gelects a product body if there are multiple solid bodies in the original product file. %"'"

ÿ'"% mets you: Accept the path to the folder from which you selected the product model or type a different path. ï? Type a new path. ï? Browse to a path. ï?

ÿ(

Tip: You can specify an existing folder or create a new one. Note: The project path box and browse button are not available in the Teamcenter environment; the mold project is referenced under the plastic product. Gets the project name. By the default naming rule, the project name is included as a prefix to the file name of each file in the mold project. Tip: The default project name is the name of the product model.

Try to use short project names, less than ten characters. Note: The customer defaults include a setting to control the maximum number of characters allowed in the project name. A project name with more characters than the specified limit will be truncated.

Gets the shrinkage factor from a database of materials. Note:

The list is used only to set the shrinkage factor. The name of the material that you select is not stored. You can customize the material database spreadsheet. Gets the shrinkage.

%(4

Tip: You can override a material database value or enter any shrinkage factor not present in the database. mets you select a template assembly. Tip:

Assembly template files define the assembly structure of a mold design project. The initialization process automatically duplicates the assembly structure defined in the template assembly.

list

mets you select attributes to add to the assembly part during initialization.

% Gpecifies the units of measure for the tool assembly files. Tip: You should be aware that some manufacturers provide only millimeter standard parts, others provide only inch standard parts, and several provide both. ÿ'"

In the customer defaults, you can change the default project units to be always: ï? ï? ï?

Millimeters. Inches. Game as the product model.

You can also allow mixed units for standard parts. !

When selected, opens the ÿ dialog box after you click 5. pens the material database spreadsheet ¢¢¢ ¢ .

r

rÿ'"

pens the template assembly register spreadsheet ¢¢¢ ¢ .

pens the custom attributes spreadsheet r ¢¢¢ ¢ .

verview How To


If you specify any existing part name and a numeric suffix wild card character in the name rule, the the numeric suffix is incremented until a unique name is found. If you specify an existing project path and name with no numeric suffix wild card, a dialog box is displayed with the following options: ï? ï? ï?

(ÿ'" (ÿ'" ((ÿ'"

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The following templates are available in the list: ï? ï? ï?

6-7 r%c

Note: plick the links for detailed descriptions. You can create you own configurations. Gee pustomize template configurations.

6-7! verview How To

Yse the 6-7 template when you want to:


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Yse the recommended and default template. Yse the parting-set structure, to be able to change the mold coordinate system after you create the parting. Yse a sketch-based, extruded workpiece. Yse the combined subassembly for creating combined cavities, cores, or workpieces. preate cores, cavities, and slide bodies that inherit the face colors and translucency of defined regions. Initialize projects with one set of naming rules. The ÿ dialog box appears only one time for assemblies made with this template.

6-7%" Part name

Identifying attribute

Description rganizes the assembly structure.

YM_T P

top

pontains the bill of materials definition. pontains expressions used by the mold base and standard parts.

YM_VAR

var

rganizes cooling bodies that cross two or more cavities. MW_p

m

cool_side_b

MW_p

m_GIDE_A

cool_side_a

MW_p

m_GIDE_B

cool

YM_GR

fill

Gide A and side B components permit simultaneous development of fixed and moving halves.

pontains solids for runners and gates. pontains cavity independent standard parts such as locating rings, parting locks, and sprue pins.

YM_ THER

misc

Gide A and side B components permit simultaneous development of fixed and moving halves. misc_side_b

MW_MIGp_GIDE_A

misc_side_a

MW_MIGp_GIDE_B

layout

YM_mAY YT

pontains one or more product å ) subassemblies. pontains components for a combined workpiece, cavity, and core.

combined

MW_p MBINED pomponents contain linked geometry after the command is used.

comb-wp

MW_p MB_WP

pontains sketch 4"(879 for a combined workpiece.

comb-core

MW_p MB_p RE

pontains the linked body for the combined core.

comb-cavity MW_p MB_pAVITY

pontains the linked body for the combined cavity.

Part name


Description pontains product-specific components for a single instance of a product model.

product

workpiece

parting-set

YM_PR D

MW_p MP_TYPE=M W_W RKPIEpE

MW_p MP_TYPE=M W_PARTING_GET

Gide A and side B components permit simultaneous development of fixed and moving halves. pontains a sketch and extruded workpiece body. The shape and size of the sketch and extents of the extrusion can be edited. pontains shrink, molding, and parting component parts that must be moved together when you use the %:% command. pontains the original part model for a molded plastic product design. The model should be a valid solid body. This body is the parent of the molding body.

original product

pontains a linked copy of the molding body. parting

YM_GHRINKAGE pontains linked copies of the work piece the mold pGYG. pontains a linked copy of the molding body.

shrink

The initially broken link is re-linked to the YM_GHRINKAGE_KEE product body during initialization. P A scale feature applied to the linked body is updated when you choose a material during initialization, or when you edit the shrinkage. pontains a linked copy of the original product body.

molding MW_MAGTER Ysed to make corrections such as tapers and edge blends. pontains a linked core surface, initially a broken link. pontains a linked copy of the workpiece. core

YM_PART_p RE

pontains a trim feature, initially suppressed by expression. The link is connected and the trim unsuppressed by the command.

Part name


Description pontains a linked cavity surface, initially a broken link. pontains a linked copy of the workpiece.

cavity

YM_PART_pAVITY

pontains a trim feature, initially suppressed by expression. The link is connected and the trim unsuppressed by the command.

prod_side_a MW_PR D_GIDE_A prod_side_b MW_PR D_GIDE_B pontains linked regions of the cavity and core. trim

YM_TRIM_PART

Ysed by the ! and r'"ÿ commands to trim electrodes, inserts, slide faces, ejector pins, and so on.

r%c! verview How To


Yse the EGI åearly supplier involvement) template when you want to: ï? ï? ï?

Evaluate moldability by testing parting and patch commands. Review product model changes, for example by using the ! command. Test the %! command in a small assembly with fast updates. EGI structure

Identifying Attributes YM_T P

EGI_top

YM_mAY YT

rganizes the assembly structure.

YM_PR D pontains a linked body of the analysis part.

EGI_Product

pontains a linked copy of the original product YM_GHRINKAGE_KEEP model. EGI_Analysis

YM_GHRINKAGE

The copy has a scale feature for shrinkage.

MW_MAGTER

The body in this part is the target for parting commands.

pontains the original part model used as the parent of the r%c) body.

original_product

! verview How To


Yse the original template when you want to: Initialize projects with individual naming rules for each product that can be different from the rules for the top level assembly. ï? Yse user defined box workpieces with sizes based on clearance and automatic rounding, or on dimensions from a reference point.

ï?

" Part name

Identifying attribute rganizes the assembly structure.

top

YM_T P pontains the bill of materials definition.

var

pontains expressions used by the mold base and standard parts.

YM_VAR

rganizes cooling bodies that cross two or more cavities. cool

cool_side_b cool_side_a fill

MW_p

m

MW_p

m_GIDE_A

MW_p

m_GIDE_B

YM_GR


pontains solids for runners and gates. pontains cavity independent standard parts such as locating rings, parting locks, and sprue pins.

misc

misc_side_b misc_side_a layout

YM_ THER


MW_MIGp_GIDE_A MW_MIGp_GIDE_B YM_mAY YT

pontains one or more product å ) subassemblies.

Part name

Identifying attribute pontains product-specific components for a single instance of a product model.

product

YM_PR D

Gide A and side B components permit simultaneous development of fixed and moving halves. pontains the original part model for a molded plastic product design. The model should be a valid solid body. This body is the parent of the molding body.

original product

pontains a linked copy of the molding body. shrink

YM_GHRINKAGE_KEEP A scale feature applied to the linked body is updated when you choose a material during initialization, or when you edit the shrinkage. pontains a linked copy of the molding body.

parting

YM_GHRINKAGE

The initially broken link is re-linked to the product body during initialization. A scale feature applied to the linked body is updated when you choose a material during initialization, or when you edit the shrinkage. pontains a linked core surface, initially a broken link. pontains a linked copy of the workpiece.

core

YM_PART_p RE

pontains a trim feature, initially suppressed by expression. The link is connected and the trim unsuppressed by the command. pontains a linked cavity surface, initially a broken link. pontains a linked copy of the workpiece.

cavity

YM_PART_pAVITY

pontains a trim feature, initially suppressed by expression. The link is connected and the trim unsuppressed by the command. pontains linked regions of the cavity and core.

trim

YM_TRIM_PART

Ysed by the ! and r'"ÿ commands to trim electrodes, inserts, slide faces, ejector pins, and so on.

Part name

Identifying attribute pontains a linked copy of the original product body. MW_MAGTER

molding

The initially broken link is re-linked to the product body during initialization. Ysed to make corrections such as tapers and edge blends.

prod_side_a prod_side_b

MW_PR D_GIDE_A MW_PR D_GIDE_B

( verview How To


1.? In the ÿ'"c dialog box, in the % group, click . 2.? Add new materials in the rc column. 3.? Edit existing or add new shrinkage factors in the %&c 5 1r column. Example: rc N NE NYm N ABG

%&c 5 1r 1.000 1.016 1.006

Warning: You must format cells in the %&c 5 1r column as text, and as numbers.

!" verview How To


1.? In the ÿ'"c dialog box, in the % group, click ÿ'". 2.? In the spreadsheet, click the tab to register millimeter unit template assemblies, or the c & tab to register inch unit template assemblies. 3.? In the $c1) r column, type a name to identify the template assembly in the list. 4.? In the ÿ )%c column, type a path to your template assembly. The folder must be located under the ¢¢¢ folder.

Note: The two default templates are located in the ¢¢¢ and ¢¢¢ folders. 5.? In the ÿ) % column, type the name of your custom top level assembly part file. Note: Do not add a file name extension. 6.? In the ÿ) % column, type the name of your custom product level assembly. Note: Do not add a file name extension. 7.? In the c column, type a valid action: O? r2plones the template assembly from the local machine's pre-part directory into the Teamcenter project folder. O? r$r2References the template project. Does not clone. O? r) r2plones the template assembly from the Teamcenter pre-part folder into the Teamcenter project folder. O? r)r$r2References the template project. Does not clone. Example: $c1) r ÿ )%c ÿ) % ÿ) % c default /pre_part/metric top prod pm NE pustom1 top slider TpE_pm NE pustom2 top2 none TpE_pm NE

Note: In Teamcenter Enterprise, you need not supply a path to a folder in the ÿ )%c column. If the name of the product assembly is , a product assembly will not be created. Dor more information about the template structure, see Project initialization Initialize Project related topics. Tip: Many companies customize the following in template assemblies: ï? ï? ï? ï? ï?

Parts lists. mayer visibility polor settings View orientation Background color

! ! verview How To


1.? In the ÿ'"c dialog box, in the % group, click . 2.? In the ) r column, specify a name for the attribute to be written to the part. 3.? In the ) r column, specify a value for the attribute. You can take the value from another part by using the syntax shown in the example. You can reference another part by its attribute as shown in the table in Initialize Project related topics. Example: ) r Designer pustomer Name pompany Name

)- r ABp EDG ::p MPANY

Unigraphics Nx7.5 - Mold Wizard

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