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Rapidmade/Portland State University Advancing Injection-Mold Technology Research with Solidworks Solutions
技术
- 分析与建模 - 预测分析
- 分析与建模 - 实时分析
- 功能应用 - 制造执行系统 (MES)
适用行业
- 塑料
适用功能
- 产品研发
- 质量保证
用例
- 自动化制造系统
- 预测性维护
- 过程控制与优化
服务
- 软件设计与工程服务
- 系统集成
挑战
Conformal cooling channels, which uniformly cool injection molds and the plastic parts inside, have long represented the ultimate productivity goal in injection-molding manufacturing. Cooling channels that conform exactly to the geometry of the injection-molded part would make quick, uniform cooling of the molded plastic possible, resulting in better quality parts, faster cycle times, decreased part waste, and reduced energy consumption. To date, conformal cooling channels have remained just a research idea because the traditional techniques used to machine molds, such as milling and drilling, are incapable of producing all of the geometric shapes required. However, a team of researchers from Portland State University (PSU) and RapidMade, a 3D printing, manufacturing, and engineering company based in Portland, Oregon, have secured a federal grant to conduct research and development aimed at determining how to bring conformal cooling channels to the injection-molding industry.
关于客户
RapidMade is a 3D printing, manufacturing, and engineering company based in Portland, Oregon. The company specializes in leveraging advanced manufacturing technologies to create innovative solutions for various industries. In collaboration with Portland State University (PSU), RapidMade is working on a federally funded research project to develop methods for implementing conformal cooling channels in plastic injection mold cores using additive manufacturing tooling. The research team includes PSU student and Team Lead Christopher Mullens, PSU Computer Science Associate Professor Bart Massey, and RapidMade Engineering Director David Shapiro. Their goal is to advance the injection-molding industry by creating molds with conformal cooling channels, which would result in better quality parts, faster cycle times, decreased part waste, and reduced energy consumption.
解决方案
The research team chose SOLIDWORKS® injection-molding solutions, including SOLIDWORKS Professional design, SOLIDWORKS Simulation Premium analysis, SOLIDWORKS Flow Simulation computational fluid dynamics (CFD) analysis, and SOLIDWORKS Plastics Premium injection-molding simulation and analysis software. These tools were selected for their adaptability and comprehensive capabilities in CAD, simulation, and plastics injection-molding. The process begins with the creation of a plastic part, from which the mold and cooling channels are modeled using SOLIDWORKS Professional software. The design is then taken into SOLIDWORKS Plastics Premium to evaluate how molten plastic flows into the mold and to optimize the mold design with respect to material flow and cooling channel placement. SOLIDWORKS Flow Simulation is used to analyze how effectively the flow of liquid coolant in the cooling channels cools surrounding walls, and SOLIDWORKS Simulation Premium software supports analyses of the thermal effects of the cooling channels throughout the mold. Simulation findings help guide modifications and support design iterations. The combination of SOLIDWORKS Plastics Premium, SOLIDWORKS Simulation Premium, and SOLIDWORKS Flow Simulation software enables the team to more efficiently and effectively study the interaction of molten plastic and cooling channels in virtual molds.
运营影响
数量效益
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