VX Mold and Die

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VX

Mold and Die Training Guide

Version 14


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Mold & Die V14 page 1

Copyright and Trademarks Copyright 1989 - 2009 VX Corporation. All rights reserved907 E Strawbridge Ave Suite 200Melbourne, FL 32901

(321) 676-3222

VX V14.00 Mold & Die Training Guide

This documentation may be reproduced provided it complies with the terms presented on theLICENSE AGREEMENT supplied.

VX Corporation and the program authors have no liability to the purchaser or any other entity,with respect to any liability, loss, or damage caused, directly or indirectly by this software ortraining materials, including but not limited to, any interruptions of service, loss of business,anticipatory profits, or consequential damages resulting form the use of or operation of this

software.

Updates may be made to this documentation and incorporated into later editions.VX is a registered trademark of VX Corporation.The VX logo is a trademark of VX Corporation.All products mentioned herein are registered trademarks of their respective companies.

Printed in the United States of America


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page 2 Mold & Die V14


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Mold & Die V14 page 3

Table of Contents

Forward ................................................................................................................................ 4Chapter 1 Importing and Creating Geometry ..................................................................... 5Chapter 2 Analysis, translation, and scaling .................................................................... 23Chapter 3 Creation of Core, Cavity and Parting Planes................................................... 37Link Manager ............................................................................................................................ 63Chapter 4 Creating your first insert .................................................................................. 71Copy Insert to the Core ............................................................................................................ 81Link Manager ............................................................................................................................ 82Chapter 5 Creating your second insert ............................................................................ 89Copy Insert to the Core ............................................................................................................ 96Link Manager ............................................................................................................................ 97Chapter 6 How to create Sliders .................................................................................... 100Copy Slider to the Cavity ........................................................................................................ 103Link Manager .......................................................................................................................... 108Appendix A 2D Drawing Lyout ....................................................................................... 111Appendix B Mold Base Creation .................................................................................... 119


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page 4 Mold & Die V14

Forward

The full version of the VX documentation is available online by selecting Help Browser fromthe VX Help Menu. You can also browse all VX online documentation in HTML format directly

from the VX CD. Go to the "VX\doc" directory on the VX CD using Windows Explorer andopen the file vxhelp.chm.

This Mold & Die Training Guide is available as a printed manual and in PDF format. To viewor print the PDF version, install the Adobe Acrobat Reader (provided on the VX CD in theAcrobat directory) and open the corresponding files in the VX\PDF directory on the CD. Referto the On-line HELP for information relating to specific tasks (e.g., Creating and Editing Parts,Sketch Dimensions, Constraints, etc.).

NOTES:1. For best results, view and print the PDF version of the documentation using the Adobe

Acrobat Reader.2. Since the Mold & Die Training Guide is only a portion of the complete documentation,

it is highly recommended that you utilize the On-line HELP. You will find additionaltopics, more information on command options, input options, additional command notes,and cross-links to related tasks and topics.

3. It should be noted that the On-line HELP will always be more up-to-date than anyprinted or PDF material. If you find any discrepancies between the two, always refer tothe online documentation.

4. VX's Help Interactive Mode allows you to view the online documentationsimultaneously while you are working. It will automatically load topics as you select newcommands.


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Mold & Die V14 Chapter 1 page 5

Chapter 1 Importing and Creating Geometry

NOTE: This exercise is done in MM Units. It would simplify things if you were to edit theconfiguration, set your default units to MM and add a default part template calledPartTemplate(MM). You should see this template on the Create new (Part) menu but you

wouldnt have to pick it each time we create a new part object.

Lets create a Multi-Object file calledProject_554.VX.

Create an Part object called01_IGES_001.


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Chapter 1 page 6 Mold & Die V14

Now that we are in the part, we can verify what units we will be working in. To do that, we willselect Edit on the Utilities toolbar and then the Preferences option.

The default system tolerance is 0.01 and we will keep that value for this exercise.

The Part settings menu allows us to configure:

Units Option that allows the user to define work units.

Show Back Facing Edges Option that allows the user to see the hiddenedges of the model as dashed lines or continuing lines.

Alternate Display of Free Edges Option that allows visualization ofopenings and Gaps in the 3D model.

Auto Sew On Face Creation Option that indicates if the new faces createdby the user are automatically sewn to the active model.

Auto Regen on Edit Option that indicates if the regeneration of the database is automatic or activated by the user.

Merge Shape Before Operation Option that indicates if two or more setsof faces or solids are together.Whenever you have a Boolean Operation type, holes on surfaces oropenings across two objects, they can be joined as one or kept separate.

**********NOTE: On the Part Settings menu, it isrecommended to turn Auto Sew off allowing the user toanalyze the geometry after importing.


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Now, lets import an IGES file. To do that, select, File and go to Import.

This opens the IGESImport dialog so thatyou can define settings

for the file that you areimporting. We willselect the IGES optionfor importing.

In IGES ImportSettings it is possibleto define importparameters bychoosing the Set IGESOptions button.

Auto Sew GeometryIndicates if thegeometry is to beautomatically united.

Rename layercollisions Renamesthe layers if theyalready exist with thesame name.

Remove duplicate surfacesIf there are duplicate trimmed surfaces, the duplicate is thrown away.

Break trim edges - Will analyze the edges of the surface and break the edges on the tangentpoints if needed.

Reset Dependencies - It is not uncommon for third party IGES files to contain incorrectdependency flags causing entities to not import, or to import more than once. Use this option toflushes the dependencies reported in the file, and recreate them based on the entityreferences from the parameter section of the IGES file.

Drawings Import the 2D lay-outs included in the file for the 3D environment.

Bounded planes Import planes with limits.

Unbounded planes Import planes without limits.

*********NOTE: For this exercise, deactiveate the Auto Sew Geometry option and selectOK on the Options menu.

Auto activate part Indicates that afterimporting, the geometry is automaticallyactivated. This command is only necessary if theimporting is done at the object level of the worksession.

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Select the Filter settings for importing. Select the Filter options as shown.

This menu lets the user define the type of geometry to be imported.

Select OK.

Select OK and select the file Backcover_554_Rev_04.igs, which is located in theC:\Documents and Settings\All Users\VXCorp\User-14.00\training directory.


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After you have finished importing the IGES file, the object should look like this:

Your model has all the edges of the surfaces dashed, because they were not sewn during theimport.

The Quality of the imported geometry can be improved by healing.

Select the Heal Tool Tab. Select the command Heal Part Topology as shown in the figurebelow.

This command defines the tolerance for correction. Keep the tolerance at 0.01 for now.


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The image below shows some examples of problem geometry.

During the import we deactivated the auto sew command. Now lets join the faces using Sew.To do this we need to display the Free Form Tool Tab as shown below. The icons on this tabare the tools for the building and manipulation of individual surfaces. Refer to the online helpfor more about each command.

A few commands are described below.

N-Sided Patch: Use this command to create a face by patching across 3 or more profiles.The profiles can be wireframe geometry, sketches, or face edges. Required inputs include theprofiles to define the patch.

Intelligent Blend: Use this command to create an intelligent blend face. Required inputsinclude the curves, edges, or faces that the new face will start from, go to and pass through.

Optional inputs include using curves, faces or a datum for spine control, circular and coniccross-sections, sewing, capping and the ability to give the face a unique name if desired.

Set Face Isolines: Use this command to set the number of isolines displayed in the Uand V directions of a face. You can also set isolines with the Modify Face command.

Explode Faces: Use this command to separate faces from a shape. Use the Groupoption to maintain the connectivity of the explode faces (i.e., they become a separate shape).Use the Sew command to join faces back into a shape.

Trim to Faces: Use this command to trim away part of a face or shape where it intersectswith other faces, shapes, and/or datum planes.

Extend a Face: Use this command to extend one or more edges of a face. First select theface. Then select the edges to extend and enter the distance to extend.


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Select the Sew command.

Select OK to select all faces. You can change the value of the tolerance to be different fromthat of the Part Tolerance. Dont change it at this time.

Your model should have most of the edges sewn. Do you notice the difference in appearencebetween the sewn edges and the open edges?

Whenever the surfaces are missing or haveGaps, the edges will be blue and dashed.

After sewing, the system will give you information about the largest Gap existing on thegeometry. The user can refer to that value to redefine the Sew command using it as the newtolerance. You can use the Heal command again to correct the geometry with the intendedtolerance. We will do this after we are finished repairing the model.

***********NOTE: Since the majority of faces have been joined by sewing, turn the AutoSew option back on under Edit > Preferences.

Suggestions to help determine the scope of the needed repairs:

1. Put your Pick Filter on Shape. Window pick the entire screen.

The message window will report how many separate shapes have been imported.

2. Right-click on the biggest shape that highlights and pick Attributes. Change the facecolor to the darker of the two light blue colors. This way you can visually see the othershapes and it also may give you an immediate idea of how to approach the repairs. Youcould also temporarily blank this shape to see whats left.


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Use the command EDIT > EDGE > Concatenate.This will find colinear edges and combine them into one.

Make this command a regular part of your everday Healing

Creating the missing surfaces is the next step.

For the next surface we will use another command whichwill also allow us to create a surface on the free edges.These tools are found on the Heal toolbar.

The bottom faces of the pocketsare missing. When the part isshaded, the red face you see isactually the inside of the backface of the part.

To verify that a face is missingas opposed to a face that hasits normals reversed, zoom inclose to one of the edges andwindow pick the edge and lookat the message window. YourFilter must be set to Edge.This will give you a count of theedges found. One edge meansa face is missing.

For this exercise lets use theTrimmed Plane command. Thiscommand permits the constructionof surfaces from 2 or more edgesand/or curves.Select edges shown in the image. to accept theedge selections. again to finish thecommand.

Select the Fill Gap betweenedges with a new facecommand. Select an open edgeand then to filland confirm.


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This menu also contains a command which helps us detect problems with the geometry.Select the command Show Open Edges. This command lists the number of free edges. Italso displays a form, which allows you to Zoom To to better identify the problem area.

Now we will show you how to solve the problem. In this situation we can use the commandTrim to curves. To use this command, first select the surface to be trimmed. Next select theedges/curves for that trim. (Use the edges shown in the image). Finally, indicate the side youwish to keep.

Face

Edges Pick 6Keep area


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Trimming a surface does not automatically sew. Select the Sew command, and select OK.

Use the Fill Gap command to create the next surface and select an edge.This is shown in the image below.

A new surface should be created and automatically sewn per the Preferences setting.


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Find the problem area shown below. Select the Ruled command, for the construction of thissurface. Just select the two edges as shown in the image. Select both edges on the same endto avoid creating a twisted surface. (generally referred to as a bow-tie effect)

The Ruled command will not only create flat surfaces, but will also create surfaces supportedby two curved edges. Select the arcs as shown in the image below. This type of surfacecreates straight line rulings between each point on the two curves selected.


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Once again use the command Inquire Open Edges to locate the open edge shown on thisimage.

After locating the problem, use the Fill Gap command. Activate all of the available tangencyoptions as shown. Select one of the edges. You will now see a new surface that is tangent tothe surfaces from which it originated.


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Now we are going to repair the surface shown in this image by using the Trim to Curvescommand.

Select the surface to be trimmed.

(You may have to change the filter toFACE)

Select the boundary edge (use to chain select the edges).

Finally select the side of the face tokeep.

Again this surface was trimmed.Sew and select OK


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The next surface will be repaired by extending and trimming. Use the Extend Face commandon the Free Form toolbar. Select the open edge of the planar surface (on the right) to extend.Select an extension value of 0.5. (If you extend the exact distance with the sew optionchecked you can skip the next two commands.)

Now trim the surface to the edge which will be the boundary.

Guess what?


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If you verify the openings on the model again, you will see one of two possible results. If afterthe initial sew command you sewed again with the tolerance equal to the largest gap, you willhave a solid with zero open edges......youre done.

If you did not select that command you will have two edges left that do not match.

To easily repair the fault in the geometry use the Extend faces to close gap between edgescommand. Just select two of the edges that need repair. The software will only select openedges so you dont have to be real accurate picking.

If you analyze the model again, you can verify that it is completely closed. However, the modeldoes not have to be completely closed to continue the project in VX.


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Turn on Shade. Change the pick filter to Shape. Run the cursor over the edge of the part.

Right-Click and select Attributes. Change the Face color or select OK for the default.

Run the cursor over the edge again. This will show us that we are still missing something.

Using Blank, Unblank and Swap entity visibility you will see that a solid was left in themodel that needs to be subtracted.

We can use Combine Shapes with the Remove option as suggested in this image.

Select the mold part as your base. Select the object shown in the image as the object to beremoved.


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To complete the repair on the model we just need to heal by selecting Heal part topologywith a tolerance of 0.005.

This will complete the import and repair of your model.

Save your file.


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Chapter 2 Analysis, translation, and scaling

After finishing the repairs on the imported part, the next step is to the analyze for draft angleviolations and reposition the model.

Create a new Part at the object level andgive it the name02_Part_Scale_&_Position.

Use the Insert Component command found on the right mouse button menu.

The menu will present you with options that allow you to select apart to be inserted on the activated part.

Choose the object 01_IGES_001

Check the box next to Anchor component

Position it at 0,0,0Remember, you can type ,, or type one zero and hit

on the keyboard.

Zoom All is necessary because the part is not centered on(0,0,0).


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You must use the Merge command available on the Shape tool tab and select the componentso that the object will become local. This way the surfaces also belong to this part. TheComponent will become Real Geometry. The component itself is not deleted but theinstance of the component in the active part is.

The Merge option is also found on the right mouse button menu when the component ishighlighted. (Pick filter should be set to All or Component)

Lets analyze the draft angles. Open the new Inquire tool tab.


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By using the Draft Checking mode of the Analyze faces command its possible to verify theexisting draft on the 3D model. It also allows us to more clearly see which faces belong to theCore and those that belong to the Cavity.

Select the Draft Checking icon from the Required Inputs section and then select theDirection option. Now right-click in the graphics window and select the option Face normal.

Select the face as shown in the image. Right-click again picking On Entity and then selectany point on the face.

The default direction is +Z but this part has not been oriented correctly yet.

The optional inputs allow you to vary thedirection and draft angle to verify. For thedraft angle enter 2 or use the slider provided.

The gray surfaces are at exactly 2 degrees.

The green surfaces are OK.

As you rotate the part slightly you will see thesurfaces at the right are purple. Thisindicates that the draft angle is less than 2and these surfaces need repair. You shouldfind 5 on each side of the part including thehole.


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If you analyze the model again at 2, it will verify that the faces have been corrected.

Now change to regular shaded mode.

Save your file.

The next exercise will use some of the Mold and Die tools.


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Lets now create a datum plane on the top face of the block. Later well use this as a referenceposition of the part.

Select the option Insert Datum found on the right mouse button menu.

Select the face indicated in the image.Change Z- angle to 180 to get the same orientation shown. for offset of zero.

To place it, select the Origin option found on the menu.Entity filter on ALLRight-click CriticalRight-click Between

Select the two points shown in the image.

to accept the default percentage of 50 to finish the command.


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We are finished with the Stock. Erase the stock shape.

Lets position your part in the workspace.

This positioning has to be done by aligning the plane we just created and the XY datum.

Use the command Move entities by aligning frames.

Select your part as the object to be aligned. Filter on SHAPE.

To align the planes first select the datum plane we just created.

You can pick the plane in the graphics window or

click on the History Manager button then pick Plane1 from the list.

Pick the Input Manager to return to thecommand.

Do the same thing to select XY as the To Frame.

We are finished with the datum plane. Erase thedatum.

Zoom all to see the part in its new position.

The terms: Datum, plane andframe all mean the same thing.


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Finish orienting your part by rotating it on the Y axis. To do this we will use the commandMove along direction. Use 0 for the distance value and 180 for the rotation value.

After rotating your part it should look like the following image.

You are only moving the Shape so make sure you dont window pick with the filter on All.


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Dynamically rotate your view of the part so you can measure the distance between a point anda point on the geometry (shape).There is a group of tools found on the Inquire toolbar that you can use to measure distances,angles, etc... .

Pick Measure Distance

For this exercise you should select the option Distance >Geometry to point as shown in the image.

Specifying the letter A for the name of the Variable.For the Point enter the value 0,0,0.

Select the face indicated in the image. (Narrow face atthe lip)

You will use the Z component of the distance in the next command. You can copy and pastethe number from the Measure Distance window or use the Variable A_Z that we created.

From the Tools pulldown, pick Variable Browser to see the format.


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After storing the value of the distance on Z lets move the part along the -Z axis where youcan copy the value used before.

For the Direction Right-click pickZ axis

For the Distance either type A_Z (We know this because we looked at the Variable Browseron the previous page)

or Right-click >

Pick the Select Variable icon, then select the A_Z variable

Pick OK

Or


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As shown in the image below, paste the value from memory into the Distance box. The partwill then move that far along the -Z axis.


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In the next exercise you will scale the 3D model to compensate for shrinkage in the mold. Ascale of 0.6% is suggested. Scale the model using the command Scale entities that is foundin the Tools toolbar.

Select the Scale entities command. Select the geometry to be scaled.Indicate that the scale is Uniform and then set the scale factor to 1.006.

Pick OK

Save your file.

You are now finished with the editing of this Part. Exit this section by using thecommand Exit part.


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Chapter 3 Creation of Core, Cavity and Parting Planes

Create a new Part named 03_Core_Cavity.

This new part will be used for core and cavity separation, and will be used in the constructionof the parting faces.


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After you have activated the new part, insert a component by usingthe Insert Component command found on the right mouse menu asshown in the image.

Select 02_Part_Scale... as shown in the image.Select the option Anchor component and locate it atthe coordinates 0,0,0.


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After you insert the component perform a Merge so the object can be locally edited. Now thesurfaces belong to this part.

Select the Merge command found on the Shape toolbar. Select the object to be converted.

Another way to do this is to select the component, then select the Merge option found on theright mouse button menu.

Select the Attributes > Line menu and configure the thickness of the 3D lines that will becreated by the Parting Line command.

The color will have no affect here because thecolor of Parting Lines is defined in the VXConfiguration. The default is green.

*****Note: In this application whenyou Insert a Component you willalways Merge

Parting Lines will need to be created along theexterior edges forming a closed loop. You will

also need to create Parting Lines around anyholes in your part.


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With the pick filter set to all, you will create the parting lines. Use the Parting line fromsilhouettes command. Select the Z axis as the axis of extraction. to accept all of the faces. to finish the command.

Save

Blank the part and the exterior parting lines only by using the Blank command. With the pick

filter set to All, select the part and the outer parting line.


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Erase the leftover parting lines. We want to erase just the lines, and not the planes so be sureto select the Parting Line filter and pick all.

After erasing the unnecessary parting lines, select Unblank all entities.

Create a new parting line around the holes in your part by using the Parting lines from faceedges command.


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Using the command Parting lines from face edges indicate all the of the faces you wish tocalculate by picking the two large flat surfaces and the 5 vertical surfaces on the tab.

Select only the edges as shown in the image. If you get too many, to deletethem.

Flat surfaces

5 vertical surfaces

Shift-pickpick

pick

Again we should have a closed loop


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Repeat the previous command by and create Parting lines on the edgesshown in the image. Pick the two faces and the two edge loops.

To check for future problems in the Parting lines, select the Check for gaps in parting linescommand.

There should be no gaps or overlaps in order for the part to split in the next step.

Shift-pick

Again we should have two closed loops


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VX has two commands to divide the model.

The command Separate into core/cavity regions is used for a fast separation. Yousimply select the surfaces to be separated and indicate the dividing axis.You can define a layer for each of the parts.Ex:

Z axis Layer for the entities belonging to the cavity-Z axis Layer for the entities belonging to the core.

The command Divide faces at parting lines is only used when Parting lines exist.Select all of the lines necessary for the division of the model. If you wish to separate the object

into two Shapes, select the Separate Shape at Parting Line option. Otherwise the model willbe divided only on the surface and will not separate into two Shapes.

In this exercise we will use the command Divide faces at parting lines.

Make sure the option to separate is checked. pick all, twice

You now have two separate shapes. To temporarily see the results blank shape orMove Along a direction ( Z axis) select one of the shapes. When your done, Undo.

Save


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Start the construction of a new Sketch using the Datum Plane XY. This sketch will serveas the limit (border) for a parting plane. It will also be used to create the Mold Insert Block.

Your parting face boundary sketch does not have to be fully constrained because we dontanticipate any changes being made, but just to get some practice we will constrain this sketch.(Can you imagine an engineer saying he doesnt anticipate changes????) Changes to anunconstrained sketch may cause unpredictable results.

All new sketches automatically have a point at 0,0 and an anchorconstraint

Draw a rectangle center, centered on the point. Use a width and height value of276/2 or 138. (VX will do the calculation in the text input window.)

The only thing left to fully constrain the sketch is to center the square on the point.

Select mid point constraint found under the anchor icon.

Select two diagonal corners of the rectangle.Select the point at (0,0)

An Alternate method:

There are predefined fully constrained sketches located on the Ready Sketch toolbar.Use the Square. Middle-click to place at (0,0) Edit the width.


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After defining your Sketch we can exit the sketch by usingthe option Exit Sketch found on the right mouse buttonmenu or by using the command on the toolbar.

In the next step, we will create a parting plane using some of the commands available in VX.But first, lets define a new color for the new faces that will be created.

To create the new face color select the command Default surface color. Define a color assuggested in the image and apply this as the color.

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With the Parting Face command VX will automatically create parting surfaces. Select theSketch to which the parting faces will be limited. Next, the exterior (outer) partinglines. Lastly, to skip the interior (inner) parting lines.

In the next step we will join all the surfaces that belong to the Parting plane.

Select the command Sew. This command recognizes all of the surfaces that belong to theFeature parting plane. So we need to simply select one of the surface planes.

Envelope

Outer Parting lineShift-pick

Notice the adjoining edges ofthe parting plane are now sewn.


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To complete the parting faces you will need to create three inner shut off surfaces.

Select Create faces by inverting loops.( It is behind the previous parting face command. )

This will create missing faces on the areas shown in the image.

Select one face and one of the edges. Repeat for the other shutoff. (NOTE: Youcould for the edge selection because there is only oneinternal loop.

The last area to close off is the tab shown right.

Erase the two parting line segments that you had to pickseparately in the previous step.See the two dotted edges below.

Select Create faces at angles to surface and select the parting lines on the raised tab.Shift-pick the parting lines on the tab.

Indicate the value 10 for the size of the surfaces and 0 for the angle.

Face

Edge


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Select Sew and pick once on the parting faces just created. Dont just pick OK.

From the orientation shown above you should belooking at the back of the face (pink). Use ReverseDirection if necessary. (probably not)


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Remember the sketch we created before our first set of parting faces?

We are now going to use that to create the mold block.

Select Extrude > Base

The Object called 03_Core_Cavity is a working part that contains 3 distinct parts of everymold. The Core, Cavity and Parting Geometry. Construction of the three had to ocurr in thesame object but now they need to be separated into their own object files.


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Our next step will be to separate the different Parts.

Select the command Edit > Copy > Geometry to Part. Set the filter to Shape and start byselecting everything related to the parting planes including the block......

.......Before finishing the command go back and change the filter to Curve, and selecteverything related to parting lines..... HINT: 5 times.


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Middle-click to repeat the command to create a Part for the core.

Give this Part the name 05_Reference_Core.


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Repeat the command again to create a Part for the cavity.

Name this Part 06_Reference_Cavity.

After creating the respective Parts,

Save

Exit part


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Once at the VX objects level, select the Part 05_REFERENCE_CORE and select Edit.

Insert the component 04_Parting_Faces by using aright mouse button menu. Select the InsertComponent option.

When you activate this option a new menu will pop up.From this menu you can select a part to insert into theactive Part. You can preview the parts before insertionby selecting the Preview - Graphics option. This wayyou can be sure you have chosen the right part beforeyou insert it.

Select the object 04_Parting_Faces as thecomponent to be inserted.

Select the Anchor component option

Locate it at the origin point (0,0,0) as shown in theexample.

Pick OK.


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Be sure to Merge the component after inserting it.

Or right-click Merge

Remember, our component is now a shape.

Activate the Mold toolbar and select the Trim plates to core/cavity region command icon.Select the block. Select the core. On the menu that pops up, select the Flip option. all of the surfaces of the parting plane (4). For the copy option selectNeither.

You now have a closed solid shape.

Save


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When you have finished the command your object should be identical to the image below.

At the VX Objects Level, select the Part 06_Reference_Cavity to be edited. Now we willapply the same techniques that were used to define the reference core.


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Insert the Parting Faces component as shown below.

Select Merge. (RMB)

Trim the plates as you just did in theReference Core.


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Once you have erased the surfaces on the corners of the parting plane you can rebuild themusing the Drive curve loft command.

This next step will create a single face between the edges.Dont forget to activate the Smooth

option so the connection will be tangent to the ajoining faces.

toolbar

Its necessary to extend the surfaces so they will exceed the limits of your block. To do that weuse the surface command, Extend, available onthe Free Form toolbar as shown in theimage below. Use an extension value of 10.

Repeat this process to extend the other surface.


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Select the Unblank command and apply Fillets with a radius of 30mm on the edges shownin the image.

We need a method for automatically updating the Reference_Core and Reference_Cavity toreflect these and any changes made to the Parting Faces object.

The next step will update all the parts that are associated to the parting planes.


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Link Manager

Select the VX objects Link Manager found on the Tools menu.

Select Insert and select the objects to be updated. In this case, select the parts

05_Reference_Core and 06_Reference_Cavity.

Select Select All.

Check the option Auto Regen to turn it on.

If the user sets up the link manager to do an automatic regen of the Reference parts, eachtime the 04_Parting_Faces part gets regened, so do the Reference_Core andReference_Cavity.

Select Dismiss

You can now run the Regen command. Watch the message window and you will seethat the two reference parts are also regening.

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The reference core and reference cavity are now updated according to the modificationsthat we created on the parting plane.

Create a new object with the name shown below. It will be used as a separator.

This separator is nothing more than a VX object with a visually unique name. This helps usvisualize and separate the different steps of the project in the Objects window.

We suggest you follow this type of naming scheme. Since each part is based on the previousone, using numbers will help to organize your models in the object list.


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The next step will create a new Part/ Assembly object. This is where youre going to set upyour mold.

Create a new Part/Assembly object and name it 08_Mold_Assembly.


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Insert the component 09_Core_Group at the 0,0,0 point.

This is a new part object so just type the name as shown.

This component doesnt exist so VX will create and activate itautomatically for editing.

The user knows which file is active. The name appears onthe VX title bar.

In this new object we will create all of the core groupreference information.

VX automatically created, inserted and activated a new

component


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The core should be the first object you create in this group. To do that, Insert a newcomponent and name it 11_CORE. Anchor and Position at (0,0,0).

Once more the system creates a component and automatically activates it for editing becauseit doesnt yet exist in this project.

Notice that activating the part changed the name of the new object in the title bar and insertedit into the core group.


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Use the command Exit part to position it in the 08_MOLD_ASSEMBLY object.

Use the same insert technique again to create the cavity group.

Insert the component 10_CAVITY_GROUP into the active object 08_MOLD_ASSEMBLY.

We will also be creating and activating a new component here. The following is an outline ofthe steps for the cavity side. They are identical to what we just did on the core side.

Insert a new component called: 12_Cavity anchor and position it at (0,0,0)

Insert the 06_Reference_Cavity anchor and position it at 0,0,0 and Merge it.

Now we have an assembly which contains 2 sub-assemblies

08_Mold_Assembly

09_Core_Group 10_Cavity_Group

11_Core 12_Cavity

05_Reference_Core 06_Reference_Cavity

The core and cavity groups will have more components added like inserts and slides but thisshould give you a better feel for what we have done and where we are going.


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Use the command Exit part to position the 08_MOLD_ASSEMBLY object.

Here you can see the assembly of your mold divided by groups.

See the History to verify.

At the VX Objects level you will see that new objects were added to the file.

Again, notice thenaming structure. Inreality we suggestseparating the groupsa little more than wehave done here. Youmay want to use100_Core_Group and200_Cavity_Group anduse numbers in thoseranges.


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Chapter 4 Creating your first insert

Select the name 08_Mold_Assembly from the Object list to edit.

Select the VX Assembly Manager, using the right mouse button menu...

********NOTE: At first glance, one may think we are done. We now have what looks like thecore and cavity in an assembly. However, there are more parts to create for this mold.There are a couple of inserts and slides required as well as the geometry used to subtractmaterial from the core and cavity to accomodate the inserts and slides.

With the Assembly Manager, you can hide, erase, or select a part to edit. You can also doubleclick a part for editing by setting the filter selection to All or Component options.

For this exercise it doesnt matter so select an edit method for the component09_CORE_GROUP.

RMB Edit Part

OR

ORdouble click on the object inthe graphics window.


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After activating the core group, select the option Show target so that only the objects in thisgroup, in this case the core, will be visible.

Insert a new component in the core that does not contain any geometry. You will be

creating one of the inserts.

Insert a component and name it 13_Core_Insert_01. Anchor and locate it at 0,0,0.

Since this component does not yet exist, the system will create and activate it automatically forediting.


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If you select the Show Target option again you will see the only things that exist are the three

default datum planes. You may have to pick this twice. The icon will toggle between Show Alland Show Target.

Since this object was created as an empty part, you must insert the component05_Reference_Core.

As in previous steps, anchor and position at the 0,0,0 point.

Merge

When you are finished the construction of this insert, the above shape will be trimmed awayleaving you with the insert and the tool used to remove material in the core.


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Now we will add some geometry to13_Core_Insert_01. Lets create an Extrude. Thesketch should be on the XY datum plane.

*******Hint: Any time you are creating a sketch on the XY datum plane, twice.


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Create a two point rectangle and dimension it from the point located at (0,0).For this Sketch use the dimensions shown in the image below.

Exit Sketch by using the right mouse button menu.


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The start value of your extrusion will be the point shown in the image below and an end valueof 50.

After creating the extrusion, select the Shade button. Your object should now look like this.

Save


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Hide the core reference, by using the Blank Entities command icon.

Create an extrudedboss on the new component.

Add anextrusion. Your sketch should be located on the highlighted face shown in theimage.

Reference curves should automatically be created if you set the option in the configurationfile. If not, use the following.


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Draw a 2 point rectangle on the reference plane with the dimensions shown below.

Exit Sketch and complete the extrusion form as shown. Give it a start value of 0 and anend point at the point shown in the image.


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Unblank so the core reference will be visible.

Create a boolean operation Shape toolbar > Combine Shape between the two entities byusing the Trim Shapes command.

In this command, the Reference Core will be the object for the base and the object fortrimming will be the previously created solid.

Be sure to select the options Flip side to keep and Keep trimming shapes.

2

1


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When you have completed the command it should look like the image shown. We now havethe insert and the subtraction tool.

As shown in the image above, you should Blank the actual insert and create a clearance gapon the subtraction tool that will be used on the core insert.

Use the command Face Offset. Select the face indicated in the image and give it a value of0.5.


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Copy Insert to the Core

After creating the clearance gap, export the geometry.Select the option Edit > Copy > Geometry to Part.Select the shape, and indicate the part for the destination

(11_CORE).

Swap entity visibility. This will hide the insertsubtraction tool and make the actual insert visible.


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Link Manager

You need to associate the insert with the core so that anytime the insert is altered the corewill be updated as well.

Activate the VX objects Link Manager and insert the object 11_CORE into the regenerationlist.

Regen will regenerate the history of the active part as well as 11_core.

The part 11_Core is created from the 13_core_insert_01 part with the copy geometry to partcommand. This does not create a history operation in the 13_Core_insert_01 part, but doescreate a history operation in the 11_Core part. This means that if the 13_Core_insert_01 partgets changed, the user has to manually go into the 11_core part and perform a regen so thatthe latest geometry gets read in to the 11_core. If the user sets up the link manager to do anautomatic regen of the 11_Core part, each time the 13_Core_Insert_01 gets regened, sodoes the 11_Core.

Reactivate Parent Object so you are in the 09_Core_Group.

4

3

5

6

7

1

2


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Set the filter to component and the object 11_Core to activate it.

Use Combine Shapes > Remove, where the object base is the core and the subtraction toolis the shape to be removed.

Base

Remove


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Select the option Show target to show only the active object, which, in this case will be thecore.

If you wish to see the objects that are on the next level, and not just the ones that belong to thethis assembly, use the command Show More found on the menu View > Show Scope >Show More.


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to open the VX objects editor.

Select the 13_Core_Insert_01, and click Edit.

Right click on Trim1 as shown below and select the option Rollbackfrom the History Manager.


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Add Fillets each with a radius of 1

Window pick the edges shown in the image.

Complete the history replay by clicking the Replay all operations button.


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To change the core according to the modification on the core insert, Edit the 11_Core andselect the Regen command.

When you analyze your core object you can verify that its updated according to the edits youjust made to the core insert.


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Chapter 5 Creating your second insert

For the next step of this exercise lets create another insert in the core. The core groupshould be activated first.

Insert a new object component and name it 15_Jiggle_Pin_01. Anchor and position it atthe coordinate 0,0,0.

As on previous exercises, we have to insert the Reference core in the active part.


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Merge the core reference component.

To create the shape of the insert, you must first create an Extrusion on the XY datum plane

Create a 2 point rectangle as shown and dimension it to 0,0.


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Exit the Sketch and complete the extrusion with the values shown in the image.

*******Note: Orient the part as shown here before adding draft.

Use the Blank command to hide the core reference.

Now that we have created the geometry for the head of your insert, we need to add draftangles on the lateral faces.

Use the command Draft and select the filter option Edge. Select the edges as suggested inthe image. For the reference plane, select the bottom face of the insert as indicated in theimage. Also indicate the value of the angle, in this case -1. Select Bottom for the Draftside option.

*******NOTE: Because the angle is so small, one way to verify that you indeed do have thedraft applied is to toggle back and forth with the Undo and Redo commands.


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Based on the information shown in the image repeat the same command on the indicated faceand apply a -6 degree draft angle. Use the bottom face as the reference plane.

Draft again and apply a -4 degree angle to the bottom face as suggested in the image.


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Unblank to make the core reference visible.

Erase the bottom face with the pick filter set to face.

Create a trim operation between two entities by using the Trim Shapes command.

In this command the object for the base will be the core referenceand the trimming object is the solid created previously.

The options Flip side to keep, Keep trimming shapes and Cap Trimmed regionsshould be selected.

Result Subtraction

tool

Insert


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Copy Insert to the Core

Blank to hide the insert.

You now have the tool used to subtract material from thecore.

Select the command Edit > Copy > Geometry to Part toexport this to the core. Select the solid and indicate thedestination part (11_CORE).


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Link Manager

You can change the workzone by clicking Swap entity visibility. This will hide thesubtractiontool and make the insert visible.

Now, we just need to associate the files of the insert and the core. This way if any change ismade on the insert the core will be updated as well. Remember, this needs to be done whenyou use the Copy Geometry to Part command.

Select the VX objects Link Manager from the Tools Pulldown and insert the object 11_COREinto the regeneration list.

1

2

3

5

6

7

4


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Exit part until you are in the 09_Core_Group object.

Set the filter to component and the object 11_CORE to activate it for edit.


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You need to do a Combine Shapes > Remove where the base shape is the core and thesubtraction tool is the shape to be removed.

Show Target

Your part should look like this.

As an optional exercise, create another insert named 16_JIGGLE_PIN_02.

After the final construction of the two inserts your core should look like this.


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Chapter 6 How to create Sliders

To create slides that belongs to the core group we should edit the 09_CORE_GROUP.

Create a new object anchored and positioned on the coordinate 0,0,0.

Name it 17_SLIDER_01

We have to insert the reference cavity into the active part 17_SLIDER_01.

Merge the component to make a shape.


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Create an Extrusion. The sketch should be on the XY datum plane.

Create a shape just like the one shown in the image. Dimension it to the coordinate 0,0.


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ExitSketch and continue the extrusion with the values indicated in the image.

Use the Trim Shape command to create a trim operation between the 2 entities.

The base is the reference cavity and the solid previouslycreated is the trim object.

Verify that the three optional inputs shown at the right arechecked.


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Copy Slider to the Cavity

Your object should look like the image below.

Blank to hide the front of the slide.

Lets export into the cavity the subtraction tool for your slide.Select the command Edit > Copy > Geometry to Part.Select the solid. Indicate the destination for the export12_Cavity.


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Swap Visibility and lets add some geometry to the slide.

Create an extension for your slide. You need to create a reference point.Open the Wireframe menu and select the Point command.

Select the options Critical + Center of Curvature from the right mouse button menu as shownin the image. Select the edge on which to locate your point.

Insert Sketch as shown in the image. Up until now we were notconcerned where the originof a sketch was whensketching on a face.

Now we want the origin to beprojected from the point we

just inserted.

Use the Origin option andpick the point entity weinserted in the last step.

Pick the line indicated by thearrow for the UP direction.


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Draw the sketch shown below.

Exit Sketch


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Create a reference curve on the three edges in the upper left of the part.(one horizontal and two vertical)Create a line as shown. Use the suggested dimensions.

Use the command Trace Profile to create a curve. Select just the three entities that you wantto see.


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Link Manager

Exit your sketch. Complete an extrude using the remove option with a start value of0. End it on the point shown in the image.

Use the Link Manager again to force the 12_Cavity to automatically regen any time the slideis regened.

Exit part to go to the 09_Core_Group object.

Here we can analyze all the objects that belong to this group.


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Once you are in the main assembly of the mold, set the filter to component and the object 10_CAVITY_GROUP to activate it.

on the object 12_CAVITY to activate it.

Combine Shapes > Remove operation where the base shape is the cavity and the slide toolis the shape to be removed.

As your final (optional) exercise, create a second slide forthe mold.


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Appendix A page 112 Mold & Die V14

Before beginning to draw, look at the VX configuration.

See the Color tab and Display tab. Dont change anything yet. Reviewthe color settings for anything related to 2D geometry. The display tabdefines global settings for line thickness.

Now cancel.

Select the Attributes pulldownmenu.

The first option we will look at on this menu is a line-type configuration.

Here the user can override the attributes set in the configuration of newlines that will be created.

This will be in affect for any sheet created during the currect session.

If you wish to alter any existing entities select the Attributes option from themiddle or right mouse button menu. This option will activate the same menu asshown above, but it will only affect the selected entities.

You can also keep these settings for later use by Saving a Bundle. See theOn-line HELP or try it yourself.


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Mold & Die V14 Appendix A page 113

Another option available on the Attributes menu allows for theconfiguration of the dimensions. Here the user can intuitivelyconfigure the aspect of dimensions to apply to the drawing.

Other menus are used to define the text style and the type ofHatch pattern that should be applied to sections.

These configurations can be done in the Template_IN.VX and

Templates_MM.VX files as opposed to a single drawing sheet,and since every new project is based on the template thesoftware will assume the new configurations that were previouslydefined.


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As a first exercise select the commandshown in the image. This command letsyou create 3 or 4 views of the selectedmodel, redefine the parameters

configured by default, and indicate thetype of projection intendeda 1 degree angle or a 3 degree angle.

Select 11_CORE as the object to be used in the 2D views. Click OK or tofinish.

Your first drawing should look like this.

After creating the views its possible to change their position on the drawing. Just select thedesired views and right mouse click Move. Select the starting point and the destination point.

You can also use this menu to alter the attributes of the selected views. Select the isometricview and change the hidden lines attribute from dashed to Ignore.


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Add dimensions using the Right Mouse Button menu.

So the final result of your project should look like the image above with dimensions.


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Appendix A page 118 Mold & Die V14


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Mold & Die V14 Appendix B page 119

Appendix B Mold Base Creation

The first time you pick this icon you will get the old Mold Base menu. This has beendiscontinued but is here only temporarily while we transition to the new Mold Expert softwarefrom Antares.

Save your file and click on the Applications pulldown menu.

Click on Install Mold Expert

The messages above will be displayed in the message window and you will have to restart VX.

Start VX and open a file.

Click on the User pulldown and select MoldExpert


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Appendix B page 120 Mold & Die V14

Click on the Mold Base icon shown above.

There are two versions. Basic gives you the samefunctionality that we had in the old software at noadditional cost. You will probably notice that someicons on your screen are hazed out. Those commandsare included in the Advanced version.

Click on the Configuration icon to obtain a license forthe Advanced version.

MoldExpert has its own HELP.

The following is an outline of the steps to get started:


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Open a new part object for your MoldBase Assembly.Insert Component Core 11_CoreInsert Component Cavity 12_CavityComponent Merge ... pick both components --- --------

These need to be shapes at this pointInsert the MoldBase

The Frame will typically be the XY datum.Either type XY or pick the plane from the graphics area.


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The bounding box option allows you to pick geometry which will be used to automaticallyselect the appropriate mold base size. You can think of it as an envelope.

Select the button highlighted above

You will have 3 options for defining the bounding box. You can pick the core and cavityshapes, select two diagonal critical points, or enter values.

The Extra X and Y sizes are to give you space around the core and cavity for cooling lines,etc.

You can accept this size or continue to edit the sizes that were selected.

Select OK The moldbase will be inserted.

The plates are shapes and the other hardware are components. It is done this way so youcan work on the plates.


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Typically the next step is to subtract material from the Plates to accomodate the core andcavity.

Extrude a Base Shape using the Right-click Insert Curve List option.

the entities that make up the top edge of the cavity.

Start at 0End at

Combine shape remove from the 2 plates.


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Pick the Standard Elements icon and we are going to insert 4 socket head capscrews to hold the cavity to the top plate.

The point will be the critical center of the four radii on the cavity.

Repeat this for the other three.


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