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The Mold Wizard application assists you in designing plastic injection molds and other molds.

You can create 3D models of:

ï? pavities
ï? pores
ï? Glides
ï? mifters
ï? Gub-inserts
ï? Mold hardware

By default, all models are associative to the original product model.

Œ

The Mold Wizard application was developed and tested with continuous input from mold designers
and manufacturers. This ensures that the application meets the needs and priorities of mold makers,
and answers real-world design challenges.

Mold Wizard has design tools and procedures to automate the difficult and complex tasks involved in
mold design. The application saves you time throughout the design process and provides full 3D
models to manufacturing. If you alter the product design, you lose very little time because changes to
the product model are associative to the mold design elements.

ÿ
 is the process of creating a core and cavity based on a plastic part model. The parting process
is an important part of the plastic mold design, especially for parts with complicated shapes. The
Parting module automates this process by providing key tools.

Mold bases and component libraries are included from a variety of catalogs. pustom components,
including sliders and lifters, sub-inserts, and electrodes, are also provided in the Gtandard Parts
module. The Gtandard Parts module allows you to associatively place components with fitted pockets.

Mold Wizard provides a user-friendly way to manage different kinds of standard parts. You can use
the standard parts in the library, and customize the standard parts libraries as required.

ÿ

To use Mold Wizard effectively, you should be familiar with mold design and common NX
commands.

In the Modeling application, you should be familiar with:

ï? Deature modeling
ï? Dree form modeling
ï? Gketching
ï? purves
ï? mayers

In the Assemblies application, you should understand and be able to:

 ï? Yse the   .
ï? phange the display and work part.
ï? Add or create a component.
ï? preate and replace a reference set.
ï? preate WAVE linked geometry.


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To get the maximum benefit from Mold Wizard, you design process should follow planning and
execution steps like the following:

1.? preate or obtain a solid model.

2.? Analyze the model for moldability. Yse the validation tools described in Preparing the model.
3.? Plan the design of the tooling. Decide on the parts to be included in the mold and number and
arrangement of cavities. Allow for slides, lifter, ejectors, cooling, and so on.
4.? Initialize a Mold Wizard mold design project. When you initialize, you specify:
O? The project name and folder location.
O? The naming rules for component parts.
O? The units of measure.
O? å ptional) The molded part material and shrinkage factor.
5.? Define the mold coordinate system for each product in the mold:
O? The orientation of the part in the mold.
O? The principal parting plane.
6.? If necessary, define the shrinkage factor.
7.? Define a workpiece for each product.

#

Even if you plan to machine cavities directly in the mold plates, it is useful to define a
workpiece.

8.? If you have multiple cavities, plan the cavity layout in the mold base.
9.? Design shut-off geometry.
10.?Define the parting edges on the model and create parting surfaces.
11.?Add a mold base.
12.?Add hardware, ejectors, slides, lifters, sub-inserts, gates, runners, and cooling lines.
13.?å ptional) Design electrodes.
14.?preate pockets in mold plates and other bodies to accommodate the hardware and other
accessories you added.
15.?pompose a bill of materials.
16.?preate drawings.

c! "$
 

%
 

If you are starting Mold Wizard for the first time, see the important information in Gtarting Mold
Wizard in NX.

""
 

You can use most Mold Wizard commands when the NX Modeling or Gateway applications are
running.
If you are in the Drafting, or pAM application, change to the Gateway application before using Mold
Wizard.

Two commands, ! and &
, require you to start the Drafting application.
You are notified when it is necessary to change applications.

ÿ'"ÿ(

Warning:

Do not use a disk root directory, such as p
or 
, as a directory for a mold tooling project. Gome
essential operations fail if you initialize a project in a root directory, or attempt to add standard parts to
a project in a root directory.

r"

Giemens PmM Goftware recommends that you install the engineering database in a location outside the
default ¢¢¢


 
 location. You can put the library in shared location on your
network, and point to it with the environment variable  
c)c, for the following
reasons:

ï? Everyone on the network has access to the same customized parts.

ï? You don't have to replace the libraries every time you install an NX upgrade; the same library
can be installed on time for all of the maintenance releases of an NX version.
ï? You don't have to un-install; you can upgrade the library by overwriting it with new files.

Warning:

n 64-bit machines you  set the  

c)c variable. If you get an error message that
the file  
 ¢  is not found on a 64-bit machine, verify that the
 
c)c variable is set to the correct folder.

%!r "" *+,"(

If you are running Microsoft Windows ®, you can convert Xess files ånon-Windows format) to
Microsoft Excel ® files, or convert Microsoft Excel files to Xess files.

To set up the Microsoft Excel conversion, copy the moldwizard_add_in.xla file from the
 

  directory into your p
ÿ



 


 directory,
or p

 


 directory.

This file contains the conversion macros necessary to convert file formats.

Tip:

You must set Microsoft Excel macro security to a level that permit the macros to run. Medium security
gives you a choice of runnig macros at execution time.

Dor additional details, see Xess-Excel ponversion.

 !

Warning:
Do   use the ÿ! command options to delete unused expressions. In a Mold Wizard
assembly, there are many expressions that are used only after you add components.

%
 
 

You can customize Mold Wizard by adjusting the default preference settings in .

Dor more information, see Getting Defaults and Preferences.

""

Geveral of the dialog boxes have translucency sliders.

The Mold.V1 workpiece is translucent.

In order to get the benefit of these features, make sure that the
"" check box is selected in
he - ÿ" dialog box, on the Visual page.

%!"

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You can use customer defaults to customize Mold Wizard.

The Mold Wizard defaults and preferences are documented in &!.". /

r.  /.. Dor more information on Mold Wizard
defaults and preferences, click here.

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Menu $ĺĺĺ
 

ÿ!(

1

You should carefully inspect and correct the product model before you start a Mold Wizard project.
You must have a good quality product model to produce a good quality mold design.

ÿ-2Ghows you potential draft problems, undercuts, and wall thickness

variations. Dor more information, click here.

r 12Identifies several problems such as corrupt data, self intersection, gaps,

overlaps, spikes or cuts, and tolerance issues. Dor more information, see the NX Analysis online help
for Examining geometry.

&12Improves the quality of some imported models. Dor more information, click here.

%"

The Mold Wizard parting process can use either a solid model or a sewn set of surfaces that do not
form a solid.
When possible, use a solid product model because it will produce solid cavity and core models. Golid
cavity and core models provide some advantages in drafting and pAM processing.

Note:

In most cases, it is worth the additional effort to correct product models with geometry problems and
sew them into a solid.



Gome product models do not have correct draft åmold taper) or designs for efficient construction of
mold shut-off areas. You should correct the product model to have exactly the geometry that you want
in the finished cavity and core.

If you begin with a moldable product, you can:

ï? Gimplify the parting process.

ï? Eliminate a source of errors that you may encounter if you add draft to individual tooling
solids.
ï? Get ready-to-manufacture cavities and cores.

%
  / 

Gtart the Mold Wizard application before you open any parts to assures that the proper assembly load
options are set so that interpart geometry links and expressions function properly.

You can start Mold Wizard from the NX ÿ state from:

ï? The !!" toolbar.

ï? The % command button to the % toolbar.

!(!!"

ï? In the ÿ state, right-click the toolbar area and choose !!".

The !!" toolbar is displayed. The 

  command appears on the toolbar.

!(%

ï? In the ÿ state, on the % toolbar, choose
!ĺ 

Œĺ%ĺ%.

The % button is displayed.

G
   
 




To st t  
 , do one of t e following:

ï? n t e à


 tool , click  
 .

ï? plick G
 and select àà


ĺ 
 .

 
  


The commands are:

ï? c 
  
ï?   


ï? D
 
ï?  GG
ï? G

ï? 

ï? 
 

ï?  

ï?  
 

ï?  Œ
  

ï? G

 
   

ï? r     
ï? G 
     

ï? G  

ï? 
 

ï? Ê
ï?  

ï? r  
ï?  

 
O?
 
 
O? 


ï? 
ï? Œ


ï?  

 
O? à

O? 
 

O? ´


ï? 
  à
 (by default, not displayed)
ï? 


ï? Y 
 


ï? 

ÿ3r
c c
c c
c 

c ÿ'"  

verview How To ptions Related Topics

You can use the c ÿ'" command to:

ï? preate a new mold design project.

ï? Add additional products to an existing project to create a   .

!'"

When you create a new project, you can specify:

ï? A   assembly
ï? Ynits
ï? The path to the project part files
ï? The project name.
ï? Material and shrinkage factor

When you initialize a project, the solid product body becomes the parent of a series of associatively
linked bodies.

You can replace the product model file with a revised file and update the mold assembly with minimal
loss.

$

You can use the c ÿ'" command to add another product to an open tooling assembly.

You can add as many products as you require in one injection mold.

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Application Mold Wizard
Toolbar

 ĺc ÿ'"

c ÿ'" 

verview How To ptions Related Topics



Note:

You do not need to have the product model open when you begin a mold design project.

1.? n the 

  toolbar, click c ÿ'" .
 2.? In the !ÿ$ dialog box, navigate to and select the product model for which you want
to define a mold assembly.
3.? If you are prompted to select the product body, select one of the two or more bodies in the
product model part file.
4.? å ptional) In the ÿ( box, type a path, or, click Œ .
5.? å ptional) In the  box, type a name for the project.
6.? å ptional) Drom the  list, select a defined material and shrinkage factor.
7.? å ptional) Drom the  list, select a template assembly structure.
8.? å ptional) In the %(4 box, type the shrinkage factor.
9.? å ptional) Drom the  list, select a template assembly for the project.
10.?å ptional) In the  group, assign attributes to the top level assembly part.
11.?å ptional) In the c ÿ'" dialog box, in the % group, select the project units.
12.?å ptional) In the % group, select the ! check box to open the ÿ
 dialog box after you finish specifying project parameters.

Tip:

You can use the ÿ  dialog box to verify or change the default file
names of the assembly component parts.

13.?plick 5.

Warning:

After the template assembly is renamed, the parts are   saved to disk.

You can close the parts without saving them if you want to change the settings.

!"

When you load additional product models to a tooling assembly, the units, project path, and project
name remain the same and the Initialize Project dialog box is not displayed.

1.? pen an existing tooling assembly.

2.? n the 

  tool bar, click c ÿ'" .
3.? In the !ÿ$ dialog box, navigate to and select the product model that you want to
add to the mold assembly.
4.? Repeat this process until all of the family product models have been added.

paution:

To create additional   of a product that is 
  in the mold assembly, use the  
 command.

! !'"

1.? Gtart the Mold Wizard application.

2.? phoose $ĺ!.

Tip:

If you find it more convenient, you can also click c ÿ'" at this step.
 3.? In the ! dialog box, select the   component of the project and click 5.

c ÿ'" 

verview How To ptions Related Topics

Note:

Gee pommon dialog box options for common options not discussed here.

ÿ"

Gelects a product body if there are multiple solid bodies in the original
product file.
%"'"

ÿ'"%
mets you:

ï? Accept the path to the folder from which you selected the product
model or type a different path.
ï? Type a new path.
ï? Browse to a path.

ÿ( Tip:

You can specify an existing folder or create a new one.

Note:

The project path box and browse button are not available in the Teamcenter
environment; the mold project is referenced under the plastic product.
Gets the project name. By the default naming rule, the project name is
included as a prefix to the file name of each file in the mold project.

Tip:

The default project name is the name of the product model.


Try to use short project names, less than ten characters.

Note:

The customer defaults include a setting to control the maximum number of

characters allowed in the project name. A project name with more characters
than the specified limit will be truncated.
 Gets the shrinkage factor from a database of materials.

Note:

The  list is used only to set the shrinkage factor. The name of the
material that you select is not stored.

You can customize the material database spreadsheet.

Gets the shrinkage.

Tip:
%(4
You can override a material database value or enter any shrinkage factor not
present in the database.
mets you select a template assembly.

Tip:

 Assembly template files define the assembly structure of a mold design
project.

The initialization process automatically duplicates the assembly structure

defined in the template assembly.

mets you select attributes to add to the   assembly part during
list
initialization.
%
Gpecifies the units of measure for the tool assembly files.

Tip:

You should be aware that some manufacturers provide only millimeter

standard parts, others provide only inch standard parts, and several provide
both.
ÿ'"
In the customer defaults, you can change the default project units to be
always:

ï? Millimeters.
ï? Inches.
ï? Game as the product model.

You can also allow mixed units for standard parts.

 When selected, opens the ÿ  dialog box after you
! click 5.

pens the material database spreadsheet

¢¢¢
 

 
 
 ¢  .
r
 Œ

pens the template assembly register spreadsheet

rÿ'" ¢¢¢
 






 ¢  .


pens the custom attributes spreadsheet

r  ¢¢¢
 

 
  
 ¢  .


 

verview How To ptions Related Topics

If you specify any existing part name and a numeric suffix wild card character in the name rule, the the
numeric suffix is incremented until a unique name is found.

If you specify an existing project path and name with no numeric suffix wild card, a dialog box is
displayed with the following options:

ï?  (ÿ'"
ï? (ÿ'"
ï? ((ÿ'" 

!

verview How To ptions Related Topics

The following templates are available in the  list:

ï? 6-7
ï? r%c
ï? 

Note:

plick the links for detailed descriptions.

You can create you own configurations. Gee pustomize template configurations.

6-7!

verview How To ptions Related Topics

Yse the 6-7 template when you want to:

 ï? Yse the recommended and default template.
ï? Yse the parting-set structure, to be able to change the mold coordinate system after you create
the parting.
ï? Yse a sketch-based, extruded workpiece.
ï? Yse the combined subassembly for creating combined cavities, cores, or workpieces.
ï? preate cores, cavities, and slide bodies that inherit the face colors and translucency of defined
regions.
ï? Initialize projects with one set of naming rules. The ÿ  dialog box
appears only one time for assemblies made with this template.

6-7%"
Part name Identifying attribute Description
rganizes the assembly structure.
top YM_T P
pontains the bill of materials definition.
pontains expressions used by the mold
var YM_VAR
base and standard parts.
rganizes cooling bodies that cross two or
more cavities.
cool MW_p m
Gide A and side B components permit
simultaneous development of fixed and
moving halves.
cool_side_b MW_p m_GIDE_A
cool_side_a MW_p m_GIDE_B
fill YM_GR pontains solids for runners and gates.
pontains cavity independent standard parts
such as locating rings, parting locks, and
sprue pins.
misc YM_ THER
Gide A and side B components permit
simultaneous development of fixed and
moving halves.
misc_side_b MW_MIGp_GIDE_A
misc_side_a MW_MIGp_GIDE_B
pontains one or more product å
)
layout YM_mAY YT
subassemblies.
pontains components for a combined
workpiece, cavity, and core.
combined MW_p MBINED
pomponents contain linked geometry after
the   command is used.
pontains sketch 4"(879 for a combined
comb-wp MW_p MB_WP
workpiece.
pontains the linked body for the combined
comb-core MW_p MB_p RE
core.
pontains the linked body for the combined
comb-cavity MW_p MB_pAVITY cavity.
 Part name Identifying attribute Description
pontains product-specific components for
a single instance of a product model.
product YM_PR D
Gide A and side B components permit
simultaneous development of fixed and
moving halves.
pontains a sketch and extruded workpiece
body.
MW_p MP_TYPE=M
workpiece W_W RKPIEpE
The shape and size of the sketch and
extents of the extrusion can be edited.
pontains shrink, molding, and parting
MW_p MP_TYPE=M component parts that must be moved
parting-set W_PARTING_GET together when you use the %:%
command.
pontains the original part model for a
original molded plastic product design. The model
product should be a valid solid body. This body is
the parent of the molding body.
pontains a linked copy of the molding
body.
parting YM_GHRINKAGE
pontains linked copies of the work piece
the mold pGYG.
pontains a linked copy of the molding
body.

The initially broken link is re-linked to the

YM_GHRINKAGE_KEE product body during initialization.
shrink P
A scale feature applied to the linked body
is updated when you choose a material
during initialization, or when you edit the
shrinkage.
pontains a linked copy of the original
product body.
molding MW_MAGTER
Ysed to make corrections such as tapers
and edge blends.
pontains a linked core surface, initially a
broken link.

pontains a linked copy of the workpiece.

core YM_PART_p RE pontains a trim feature, initially

suppressed by expression.

The link is connected and the trim

unsuppressed by the  
 command.
 Part name Identifying attribute Description
pontains a linked cavity surface, initially a
broken link.

pontains a linked copy of the workpiece.

cavity YM_PART_pAVITY pontains a trim feature, initially

suppressed by expression.

The link is connected and the trim

unsuppressed by the  
 command.
prod_side_a MW_PR D_GIDE_A
prod_side_b MW_PR D_GIDE_B
pontains linked regions of the cavity and
core.
trim YM_TRIM_PART
Ysed by the
! and
r'"ÿ commands to trim electrodes,
inserts, slide faces, ejector pins, and so on.

r%c!

verview How To ptions Related Topics

Yse the EGI åearly supplier involvement) template when you want to:

ï? Evaluate moldability by testing parting and patch commands.

ï? Review product model changes, for example by using the ! command.
ï? Test the %! command in a small assembly with fast updates.

EGI structure Identifying Attributes

YM_T P

EGI_top YM_mAY YT rganizes the assembly structure.

YM_PR D

pontains a linked body of the analysis part.

EGI_Product
pontains a linked copy of the original product
YM_GHRINKAGE_KEEP model.

YM_GHRINKAGE The copy has a scale feature for shrinkage.

EGI_Analysis
MW_MAGTER The body in this part is the target for parting
commands.
 pontains the original part model used as the
original_product parent of the r%c) body.

!

verview How To ptions Related Topics

Yse the original template when you want to:

ï? Initialize projects with individual naming rules for each product that can be different from the
rules for the top level assembly.
ï? Yse user defined box workpieces with sizes based on clearance and automatic rounding, or on
dimensions from a reference point.

"
Part name Identifying attribute
rganizes the assembly structure.
top YM_T P
pontains the bill of materials definition.
pontains expressions used by the mold base and
var YM_VAR
standard parts.
rganizes cooling bodies that cross two or more
cavities.
cool MW_p m
Gide A and side B components permit
simultaneous development of fixed and moving
halves.

MW_p m_GIDE_A
cool_side_b

MW_p m_GIDE_B
cool_side_a

fill YM_GR pontains solids for runners and gates.

pontains cavity independent standard parts such
as locating rings, parting locks, and sprue pins.
misc YM_ THER
Gide A and side B components permit
simultaneous development of fixed and moving
halves.

MW_MIGp_GIDE_A
misc_side_b

MW_MIGp_GIDE_B
misc_side_a
pontains one or more product å
)
layout YM_mAY YT
subassemblies.
 Part name Identifying attribute
pontains product-specific components for a
single instance of a product model.
YM_PR D
product Gide A and side B components permit
simultaneous development of fixed and moving
halves.
pontains the original part model for a molded
plastic product design. The model should be a
original product valid solid body. This body is the parent of the
molding body.
pontains a linked copy of the molding body.

YM_GHRINKAGE_KEEP A scale feature applied to the linked body is

shrink
updated when you choose a material during
initialization, or when you edit the shrinkage.
pontains a linked copy of the molding body.

The initially broken link is re-linked to the

product body during initialization.
YM_GHRINKAGE
parting
A scale feature applied to the linked body is
updated when you choose a material during
initialization, or when you edit the shrinkage.
pontains a linked core surface, initially a broken
link.

pontains a linked copy of the workpiece.

YM_PART_p RE
core pontains a trim feature, initially suppressed by
expression.

The link is connected and the trim unsuppressed

by the   command.
pontains a linked cavity surface, initially a
broken link.

pontains a linked copy of the workpiece.

YM_PART_pAVITY
cavity pontains a trim feature, initially suppressed by
expression.

The link is connected and the trim unsuppressed

by the   command.
pontains linked regions of the cavity and core.

YM_TRIM_PART Ysed by the
! and

trim
r'"ÿ commands to trim electrodes,
inserts, slide faces, ejector pins, and so on.
 Part name Identifying attribute
pontains a linked copy of the original product
body.

The initially broken link is re-linked to the

MW_MAGTER
molding product body during initialization.

Ysed to make corrections such as tapers and edge

blends.

MW_PR D_GIDE_A
prod_side_a

MW_PR D_GIDE_B
prod_side_b

 (

verview How To ptions Related Topics

1.? In the ÿ'"c  dialog box, in the % group, click Œ.
2.? Add new materials in the 
rc column.
3.? Edit existing or add new shrinkage factors in the %&c 51r column.

Example:


rc %&c 51r
N NE 1.000
NYm N 1.016
ABG 1.006

Warning:

You must format cells in the %&c 51r column as text, and   as numbers.

 !"

verview How To ptions Related Topics

1.? In the ÿ'"c  dialog box, in the % group, click ÿ'".
2.? In the spreadsheet, click the  tab to register millimeter unit template assemblies, or the
c & tab to register inch unit template assemblies.
3.? In the  $c1) r column, type a name to identify the template assembly in the
 list.
4.? In the ÿ
)%Œc column, type a path to your template assembly. The folder must be
located under the ¢¢¢
 
 folder.
 Note:

The two default templates are located in the ¢¢¢
 




 and
¢¢¢
 





 folders.

5.? In the
ÿ)% column, type the name of your custom top level assembly part file.

Note:

Do not add a file name extension.

6.? In the ÿ)% column, type the name of your custom product level assembly.

Note:

Do not add a file name extension.

7.? In the 
c column, type a valid action:

O?   r2plones the template assembly from the local machine's pre-part directory
into the Teamcenter project folder.
O? r$r2References the template project. Does not clone.
O?
r)  r2plones the template assembly from the Teamcenter pre-part folder
into the Teamcenter project folder.
O?
r)r$r2References the template project. Does not clone.

Example:

 $c1) r ÿ
)%Œc
ÿ)% ÿ)% 
c

default /pre_part/metric top prod pm NE
pustom1 top slider TpE_pm NE
pustom2 top2 none TpE_pm NE

Note:

In Teamcenter Enterprise, you need not supply a path to a folder in the ÿ
)%Œc column.

If the name of the product assembly is , a product assembly will not be created.

Dor more information about the template structure, see Project initialization Initialize Project related
topics.

Tip:

Many companies customize the following in template assemblies:

ï? Parts lists.
ï? mayer visibility
ï? polor settings
ï? View orientation
ï? Background color


 ! !

verview How To ptions Related Topics

1.? In the ÿ'"c  dialog box, in the % group, click  .
2.? In the 

) r column, specify a name for the attribute to be written to the   part.
3.? In the 

) r column, specify a value for the attribute. You can take the value from
another part by using the syntax shown in the example. You can reference another part by its
attribute as shown in the table in Initialize Project related topics.

Example:



) r 

)- r
Designer ABp
pustomer Name EDG
pompany Name <YM_VAR>::p MPANY