Inventor - making a mold

[bgraham111]

I've spent way to long trying to figure this out....

I have a complex shape.
I want to make a mold cavity out of it.

But if I extrude a box around it, I can't cut it so that the complex shape is removed. The cut Boolean is very restrictive.

Basically - I can't figure out how to make a mold cavity in Inventor.

Any suggestions? I'm sure this will be easy once someone lets me in on the secret.

[Eurisko]

I can't comment on Inventor, but Cadkey 19 has a boolean difference function that subtracts one solid from another.

You'll probably have to use a two or four part 'block' to enclose your shape.

Perform a boolean difference on each of the sections.

The Cadkey function works 99.9% of the time; some shapes generate an error.

No idea why.

[Me2]

Create a "Derived" component from your model.
I do this all the time to create core boxes for moulding.
Basicly does a subtract from your positive model leaving the cavity in a box.
Should be examples under the help files. Look up derived component.

Cam

[mc-motorsports]

In some cases, the molded part can't be molded and ejected from a 2 part mold. I'm not a big mold guy, but I have seen molds with what they call "slides" for complex mold cavities such as you've mentioned.

Hope that helps, sorry I can't be too much more specific, you almost need to talk to an engineer in the mold industry.

[bgraham111]

Originally Posted by Me2 Create a "Derived" component from your model. I do this all the time to create core boxes for moulding. Basicly does a subtract from your positive model leaving the cavity in a box. Should be examples under the help files. Look up derived component. Cam

BINGO - that's it. I couldn't find it. It's not like UG, NX, Solidworks, CATIA, etc...

mc-motorsports: No need for a slide or horn pins. I'm just doing this at home for some poured soap molds. The think that was frustrating me was that I design complex, multi-slide tools at work, for class-A surfaces. I just couldn't do a simple single pull tool at home, only because I use inventor at home.

I just tried it and it worked like a charm. Just hard to find in the menus if you don't know where to look.


THANKS EVERYONE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Brett S]

Hey all I been really struggling with getting this derived component to work.
I have drawn my core and is saved as .ipt
I have drawn a block as my mould and also saved as .ipt.
Deriving component just seems to overlay it with no option of subtracting core shape from block.
i tried playing with .iam but just frustrating myself and am meant to have this cutting yesterday.
Someone please tell me the proper process.
Thanking you in advance.

[Brett S]

OK sorted it 5 min after posting.
I wasn't using the derived component surfaces as soon as i did that i could then sculpt the surface from my solid block.