Solidworks is a nice tool to help you design molds. It is easy to learn with its intuitive user interface and easy to use for experienced users.
Of course you must have the necessary knowledge of fundamentals of mold design and mold making in order to use this tool to its full potential.
This video is very helpful for aspiring mold designers using Solidworks.
Solidworks is easy to use.
How good are you?
Yes, but do you know how to use it?
sometimes i used solidwork to design, but can u advice to me how to use plan geometry in 3d?
Hello Elio,
I am a student attending UC Davis – one of the few UC’s that doesn’t offer advanced courses in Solidworks nor mold design. I have a few patents pending and would like to develop my own molds partially to bring my devices to market but also to assist me in gaining admittance to the school of engineering. I have spent the past 4 weeks, 8-10 hours a day, in my office educating myself on how to design plastic parts. I am now several chapters into General Design Principals for DuPont Polymers and feel ready to begin developing my skills at mold making. Yet, as you mentioned in one of your posts, there is very little affordable documentation on the process.
Would it be alright if I were to seek your guidance as a mentor while I try to learn all that I can? Question that come to mind immediately are: how does one determine the placement of ejection pins; are there limitations to their placement or quantity; why would anyone choose ejection pins over gas ejection; does one have to design the mold with ejection speed taken into account or is that dependent entirely on cooling rate?
Best Regards,
Paul Riggs
paul.m.riggs@gmail.com
Hello Paul,
In my 13 year mold design experience I have never designed molds using gas ejection. Ejector pins and stripper ejector are most commonly used. You can position your ejector pins anywhere but the weak portion of your plastic part. Ribs are good location. Thin walls are bad location. If you place very few ejector pins, your plastic part will bend and you might not attain good part measurements. If you place too much then the cost of mold will be higher but the part will get less ejection stress, thus more desirable part measurement.
I can be your mentor… its free for first 5 minute.
Congratulations on your effort to educate yourself. I wish you success.
Best regards,
I also wrote my own patents with two more on the bench until I have this mastered.
One of the reasons I am so determined is that while licensing my last invention, the licensees played hard ball with me because they had to incur the cost of developing the molds. I am not going to stop until I learn everything. : )
BR,
Paul