Latest release of software for the 3D design of injection mould tools offers an extra wizard for design of mould locks and creation of stepped split surfaces in the Die Wizard.

Delcam will demonstrate the latest release of its PS-Moldmaker software for the 3D design of injection moulds at the euromold exhibition to be held in Frankfurt, Germany, from 30th November to 3rd December, 2005. In this release, Delcam has introduced a new type of parametric component incorporating Power Features. The new release also offers an extra wizard for the design of mould locks, the ability to create stepped split surfaces in the Die Wizard, and faster creation of 2D drawings from the 3D model.

PS-Moldmaker is a knowledge-based system that provides a unique combination of automation to speed the design process and flexibility to manage design changes efficiently.

Together with the other programs in Delcam's Power Solution range of CAD/CAM software, it allows designers of injection mould tools to move successfully from processes based on two-dimensional drawings to more productive methods based entirely on three-dimensional computer models.

The latest release includes an extra level of intelligence through the introduction of Power Features.

A parametric component that contains Power Features will react automatically as it is placed into an assembly, adding all the 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 hole features in the plates through which it passes.

Furthermore, the tolerances between the various components are also defined automatically.

Thus, a sealing-fit hole is placed in the die block and the necessary clearance allowance added to the holes in all the other plates through which the pin passes.

Of course, Power Features maintain relationships in a similar way to parametric objects in other CAD systems so that, if the pin moves, all the associated holes move with it.

However, the automatic creation of relationships makes the development of the design much quicker than other systems and also makes errors in the design process less likely.

PS-Moldmaker still retains its high level of intelligence when suggesting appropriate sizes for components defined with Power Features and will recommend standard sizes whenever these are available from the many catalogues within the system.

Similarly, 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 minimises the need for non-standard components, which take longer and are more expensive to make.

Mould locks are the components used to lock the mould in position during the injection cycle.

The new Mould Lock Wizard in PS-Moldmaker 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 pre-defined 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 minimises flashing in the final component.

To create a stepped split surface, the Die Wizard within PS-Moldmaker first generates the split curve automatically in the usual way.

However, the user then has the option to specify the land distance required from the component and the angle at which the split surface then 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.

Experience has shown that many mould design projects need as much time to create the 2D drawings as is needed to generate the 3D model.

To meet these requirements, an outline general arrangement drawing and a full set of component drawings are created automatically by PS-Moldmaker from company-specific templates as the computer model is developed.

The latest release enables much quicker initial production of drawings and also faster associative updating of the drawings if the design is changed.

To minimise the need for manual dimensioning, each component drawing now includes a bitmap image of the part, together with a table showing its key dimensions.