The Complete Guide to Mold Making with SOLIDWORKS 2023

• Provides existing users with in-depth knowledge of SOLIDWORKS’ mold making tools
• Teaches you to analyze plastic parts using SOLIDWORKS Plastics Wizard and Flow Simulation
• Introduces you to using surfacing tools to repair models for mold making
• Uses step-by-step instructions and projects based on real world products

The Complete Guide to Mold Making with SOLIDWORKS 2023 is a quick paced book written to provide experienced SOLIDWORKS users with in-depth knowledge of the mold tools provided by SOLIDWORKS. Throughout this book you will learn the procedures necessary for using these tools to create and analyze effective mold designs.

Utilizing step-by-step instructions, each chapter of this book will guide you through different tasks, from designing or repairing a mold, to developing complex parting lines; from making a core in the part mode to advancing through more complex tasks in the assembly mode. Throughout this book you will be introduced to using surfacing tools to repair models and prepare them for the mold making process.

Towards the end of this book, you will learn how to work with SOLIDWORKS Plastics and Flow Simulation to simulate the way melted plastics flow during the injection molding process. You will also learn to analyze the thick-thin wall regions to predict defects on plastic parts and molds. Learning how to analyze plastic parts for errors and correct them early in the design stage is a valuable skill, which can save a significant amount of time throughout the span of the entire design process.

Every project in this book is based on real world products. Each of these projects have been broken down and developed into simple, comprehensible steps. Furthermore, every mold design is explained very clearly in short chapters, ranging from 15 to 25 pages. Each step comes with the exact screen shot to help you understand the main concept of the design. Learn the mold designs at your own pace, as you progress from simple core and cavity creation to more complex mold design challenges.

This book will also teach you to use various surfacing tools such as:

• Ruled Surface
• Planar Surface
• Knit Surface
• Filled Surface
• Extend Surface
• Trim Surface
• Lofted Surface

Who This Book Is For

This book is for users already familiar with SOLIDWORKS who want to expand their knowledge of mold design. To get the most out of this mold design book, it is strongly recommended that you have completed all the lessons in the SOLIDWORKS Advanced Techniques book or have comparable knowledge. More CAD literate individuals, who want to expand their knowledge of the different features that SOLIDWORKS 2023 has to offer, will also find this book to be a great resource.

About the Author

This book is based on feedback from the author’s former tool-die maker students and engineering professionals. Paul has more than 30 years of experience in the fields of mechanical and manufacturing engineering. As an active Senior SOLIDWORKS instructor and design engineer, Paul has worked and consulted with numerous of fortune 500 companies, NASA, the US-Navy, Community Colleges, Universities, and many others.

Table of Contents

1.   Plastic Part Design
2.   Surface Repair
3.   Core and Cavity Creation
4.   Planar Parting Lines
5.   Interlock Surface
6.   Non-Planar Parting Lines
7.   Manual Parting Lines
8.   Undercuts and Slide Cores
9.   Alternative Methods
10. Thickness Analysis
11. Using SOLIDWORKS Plastics
12. SOLIDWORKS Plastics Flow Analysis
      Glossary
      Index
      SOLIDWORKS 2023 Quick Guides