Anyone using SolidWorks for splitting complex parts?
Anyone using SolidWorks for splitting complex parts?
As Deepak ask, what type of complex part and what type of split?
We do pretty complicated die casting tools in SW on automotive engine/drivetrain components and this kind of "split" is not a problem.
I design plastic injection molds and the SolidWorks mold
tools seem to fall short and was wondering if anyone uses I-Mold or some other
software for splitting cavity and core parts.
Okay, well to be honest, I never use "mold tools" since it doesn't fit our workflow. Parting surfaces, shut-offs, adding of machining allowance e.tc. are done manually in separate parts and later on combined with the customer part to create a "as cast" version. All details, like ejector pins, core pins, small interchangeable inserts, cooling channels, are created before the split event occurs and the split is more or less the final feature in the model tree for core, cavity and slider parts. In this way we can stay flexible and replace the customer part very late during the development without having to clean up a lot of errors in the tool model.
Dale,
From my experience, none of the CAD system can provide 100% automatic split to make core/cavity in mold design, especially complex parts and shapes.
SolidWorks mold tools will help to make things bit easier and faster.
If you have a complex part to split, you have to use other surface tools to manually create or modify the splits and shut-off surfaces
I use the surface tools and mold tools within SW to create my designs
John,
I have been designing molds for 22+ years using ProE and for
the past 4 years I’m also using SolidWorks.
I can split the same part in ProE and SolidWorks, but with ProE it takes
less than half the features needed than with SolidWorks. SolidWorks also seems to have issues
maintaining references and the solid bodies always get renamed when there is a
change to the mold design.
Dale,
I never used ProE and cannot compare.
Different software has different approach to different features. Some CAD software are more powerful in certain area and others are not..
I use SW for mold design and I know, it's not powerful but I get my job done using surface tools and mold tools combined
I was using Solidworks for designing injection moulds but it was a painful process! parametric type system not great for doing mould design unless it's very simple parts.
I still use Solidworks for modeling individual parts up at times but I have VISI CAD with the mould features and it's really made life a lot less stressful and quicker not having to fix parametric issues constantly. It's a really great tool & specifically made for doing injection moulds and alike but I'm not gonna go any more in depth as this is hardly the place
Thanks Jack,
It is absolutely brutal using SolidWorks for mold designs when you have complex parts. Thanks for your input and I will check out VISI CAD to see how it compares to SolidWorks and ProE/Creo.
I have been using SolidWorks for plastic injection mold design and die casting die design since 1998. (Used Cadkey before that.) My approach has evolved over that time as you might imagine. Currently I use a combination of the mold tools and manual surfacing techniques for my splits. I have a few tricks up my sleeve but always manage to get the job done. As a self-employed contract designer I have had to have a system I could afford that could handle the parts that my customers build tooling for. There have been frustrating moments to be sure, but one observation I have is that supposedly `automatic' approaches to tool design are a mirage. Each project has it's own problems and you just need to employ good practices and figure it out.
As I start to coast into semi-retirement, I have stopped paying my annual subscription, so the last set of DVD's I have is for 2017 which arrived right before my renewal was due. Don't know if I'll ever load it. Even though I consider the 2016 release to be the poorest I can remember, it is what I have and it is working for me. Good luck!
What type of complex part? Can you post a picture and replicate what/how you trying to split?