How To Create Plastic Injection Mold In Solidoworks?

Creating a plastic injection mold in SolidWorks involves several steps, including part design, mold design, and the creation of core and cavity blocks. Below is a step-by-step guide to help you through the process:

Step 1: Design the Part

1. Open SolidWorks: Start by opening SolidWorks and creating a new part file.
2. Design Your Part: Use SolidWorks’ modeling tools to design the plastic part you want to mold. Pay attention to design for manufacturability principles such as draft angles, uniform wall thickness, and avoiding sharp corners.

Step 2: Prepare the Part for Molding

1. Check Draft Analysis: Ensure your part has the necessary draft angles for easy ejection from the mold. Use the Draft Analysis tool under the Evaluate tab.
2. Add Parting Line: Determine where the parting line (the line where the two halves of the mold meet) will be. This is usually done manually based on the geometry of your part.

Step 3: Create the Mold Base

1. Insert Mold Base: Go to the Toolbox and insert a standard mold base that fits your part dimensions. Customize it as necessary.
2. Define Parting Line: Use the Mold Tools tab and select Parting Line. SolidWorks will suggest a parting line based on your part’s geometry. Adjust as necessary.

Step 4: Create Parting Surfaces

1. Parting Surfaces: Use the Parting Surface tool under the Mold Tools tab to create surfaces that will define the separation between the core and cavity. These surfaces will extend from the parting line.
2. Shut-off Surfaces: Create shut-off surfaces for any holes or features that will require it. Use the Shut-off Surfaces tool in the Mold Tools tab.

Step 5: Create Core and Cavity

1. Tooling Split: Use the Tooling Split feature in the Mold Tools tab to split the mold into the core and cavity. This tool will use the parting surfaces and the mold base to generate the core and cavity blocks.
2. Core and Cavity Blocks: SolidWorks will generate the core and cavity blocks as separate bodies. Ensure these are properly aligned and fit together.

Step 6: Add Cooling Channels and Ejector Pins

1. Cooling Channels: Design and add cooling channels to your mold to ensure the plastic part cools uniformly and efficiently. This can be done by sketching and extruding features within the mold base.
2. Ejector Pins: Determine the placement of ejector pins to facilitate the removal of the part from the mold. Use the Library Feature in the Design Library tab to insert standard ejector pins.

Step 7: Finalize the Mold Design

1. Assembly: Insert the core and cavity blocks into the mold base assembly. Make sure everything is properly aligned and that there are no interferences.
2. Interference Check: Run an interference check to ensure that there are no overlaps or gaps between the core, cavity, and mold base components.

Step 8: Create Drawings and Documentation

1. Create Detailed Drawings: Generate detailed drawings for each component of the mold. These should include dimensions, tolerances, and any other necessary manufacturing information.
2. BOM and Exploded Views: Create a Bill of Materials (BOM) and exploded views if necessary for assembly instructions.

Tips for Effective Mold Design

• Draft Angles: Ensure all vertical surfaces have a draft angle to facilitate part ejection.
• Uniform Wall Thickness: Maintain uniform wall thickness to avoid warping and ensure consistent cooling.
• Radii and Fillets: Avoid sharp corners by adding radii and fillets to reduce stress concentrations and improve material flow.
• Material Shrinkage: Account for material shrinkage in your design to ensure final part dimensions are accurate.

By following these steps, you can create a precise and functional plastic injection mold in SolidWorks.

Related Conten: Custom Plastic Extrusions