Case Studies Improving Injection-Mold Tooling Development with SOLIDWORKS Simulation Premium

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	Improving Injection-Mold Tooling Development with SOLIDWORKS Simulation Premium

Improving Injection-Mold Tooling Development with SOLIDWORKS Simulation Premium

Technology Category	Analytics & Modeling - Predictive Analytics Application Infrastructure & Middleware - Data Visualization Functional Applications - Product Lifecycle Management Systems (PLM)
Applicable Industries	Plastics
Applicable Functions	Product Research & Development Quality Assurance
Use Cases	Manufacturing System Automation Predictive Maintenance Process Control & Optimization
Services	Software Design & Engineering Services System Integration
Challenge	Robert Elwell established PROCAD TECHNOLOGIES to leverage his experience in plastics engineering and injection-mold tooling development to help clients resolve mold-tooling issues, accelerate tooling cycles, and streamline production processes. The company needed a robust 3D design and analysis solution to quickly identify tooling issues and optimize molds for production. Elwell had tried various 3D design and analysis solutions over his career but preferred SOLIDWORKS software for its intuitiveness and value for the price. The challenge was to find a solution that could provide the necessary tools to help clients overcome injection-mold challenges and shorten production cycle times. Read More
About Customer	PROCAD TECHNOLOGIES, founded by Robert Elwell, is a full-service electromechanical product design, tooling engineering, and process optimization consultancy. The company specializes in product and mold design, tooling engineering and process optimization, and materials analysis and recycling technologies. With 30 years of experience in plastics engineering and injection-mold tooling development, Elwell brings a wealth of knowledge to identifying and rectifying mold development and production problems. PROCAD TECHNOLOGIES provides a comprehensive range of design, engineering, and product development services, taking product development all the way through manufacturing and helping optimize tooling design and production processes. Read More
Solution	PROCAD TECHNOLOGIES standardized on SOLIDWORKS Premium design and SOLIDWORKS Simulation Premium analysis software to optimize injection-molded tooling. The software provides a fast, easy-to-use solution for mold development and analysis, including core and cavity, wall thickness, and draft analysis. The nonlinear FEA simulation capabilities in SOLIDWORKS Simulation Premium allow for the identification and resolution of mold production issues. By bringing 3D visualization and nonlinear analysis to tooling development, PROCAD TECHNOLOGIES can pinpoint issues such as mold bending due to high pressures and recommend improvements to shorten cycle times. The software helps in identifying and fixing potential problems, improving performance, and shortening cycle times by 10 to 50 percent. Read More Log in to view content
Contents

Technology Category

Analytics & Modeling - Predictive Analytics

Application Infrastructure & Middleware - Data Visualization

Functional Applications - Product Lifecycle Management Systems (PLM)

Applicable Industries

Plastics

Applicable Functions

Product Research & Development

Quality Assurance

Use Cases

Manufacturing System Automation

Predictive Maintenance

Process Control & Optimization

Services

Software Design & Engineering Services

System Integration

Challenge

Robert Elwell established PROCAD TECHNOLOGIES to leverage his experience in plastics engineering and injection-mold tooling development to help clients resolve mold-tooling issues, accelerate tooling cycles, and streamline production processes. The company needed a robust 3D design and analysis solution to quickly identify tooling issues and optimize molds for production. Elwell had tried various 3D design and analysis solutions over his career but preferred SOLIDWORKS software for its intuitiveness and value for the price. The challenge was to find a solution that could provide the necessary tools to help clients overcome injection-mold challenges and shorten production cycle times.

About Customer

PROCAD TECHNOLOGIES, founded by Robert Elwell, is a full-service electromechanical product design, tooling engineering, and process optimization consultancy. The company specializes in product and mold design, tooling engineering and process optimization, and materials analysis and recycling technologies. With 30 years of experience in plastics engineering and injection-mold tooling development, Elwell brings a wealth of knowledge to identifying and rectifying mold development and production problems. PROCAD TECHNOLOGIES provides a comprehensive range of design, engineering, and product development services, taking product development all the way through manufacturing and helping optimize tooling design and production processes.

Solution

PROCAD TECHNOLOGIES standardized on SOLIDWORKS Premium design and SOLIDWORKS Simulation Premium analysis software to optimize injection-molded tooling. The software provides a fast, easy-to-use solution for mold development and analysis, including core and cavity, wall thickness, and draft analysis. The nonlinear FEA simulation capabilities in SOLIDWORKS Simulation Premium allow for the identification and resolution of mold production issues. By bringing 3D visualization and nonlinear analysis to tooling development, PROCAD TECHNOLOGIES can pinpoint issues such as mold bending due to high pressures and recommend improvements to shorten cycle times. The software helps in identifying and fixing potential problems, improving performance, and shortening cycle times by 10 to 50 percent.

Impact #1	Achieved cycle time improvements of 10 to 50 percent.
Impact #2	Solved mold flashing, warping, and breakage problems.
Impact #3	Extended the functional life of injection molds.

Impact #1

Achieved cycle time improvements of 10 to 50 percent.

Impact #2

Solved mold flashing, warping, and breakage problems.

Impact #3

Extended the functional life of injection molds.

Benefit #1	Saved two years and $80,000 by running simulations as part of reviewing the initial tool design.
Benefit #2	Fixed a severe design and tooling problem in six weeks and $10,000, which had previously cost the company $350,000 over two years.

Benefit #1

Saved two years and $80,000 by running simulations as part of reviewing the initial tool design.

Benefit #2

Fixed a severe design and tooling problem in six weeks and $10,000, which had previously cost the company $350,000 over two years.

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Overview

Improving Injection-Mold Tooling Development with SOLIDWORKS Simulation Premium

Operational Impact

Quantitative Benefit