Mold Base Templates

[MachineSMMC]

Here is what I am trying to accomplish. We make rubber molds. We have a series of standard mold bases that we use all of the time. I want to be able to create all of the components in the bases and then assemble the mold base to create a "Mold Base Template".

When we get a new job in that requires us to use one of the mold bases, I would like to be able to take the Mold Base Template, the files I created earlier, and save them as a new Job number. I realize that this can be done with the SolidWorks explorer, but it is very cumbersome because I have to rename all of the associated files to the new directory and name. And there could be many different parts.

I was hoping that someone out there had come up with a better plan or possibly a macro or something.

I would really appreciate any help or Ideas I could get.

Thanks
Chris

 

[ctopher]

If I understand correctly....open the mold assy and the dwg at the same time, then at the assy do "save as", OK, close the assy, at the dwg do "save as". If I made sense and understood you.

 

[DesignSmith]

What you are describing sounds very similar to an Add/In product called SolidWorks Moldbase. (~$1000) It basically allows you to pick brand, size, and certain options and then builds a blank mold base sub-assembly (no cavities) ready for modification.
What's nice is that the assemblies are mated and constrained such that the mold actually works when you move the plates.
If you still want to do it yourself, the trick is in the assembly file. It has its own design table of configurations that activate the proper configurations of the plate parts as needed and suppresses any unused hardware for that particular size base.
To make the job easier, it might be worth buying the MoldBase product, and then modifying the parts of one of the standards that you don't normally buy. The only catch would be to (re)set the file properties correctly before generating any BOMs.

DesignSmith

http://www.DesignSmith-Services.com

 

[CorBlimeyLimey]

I would like to be able to take the Mold Base Template, the files I created earlier, and save them as a new Job number. I realize that this can be done with the SolidWorks explorer, but it is very cumbersome because I have to rename all of the associated files to the new directory and name.

Actually, with SW Explorer it is very easy to do what you want. Simply use the Prefix setting to add the Job No (instead of "Rev?") to the front of all your parts when copying them to the new job folder.

If you have a drawing of the standard mould assy & parts, select it when making the copy. Then the drawing & all the associated parts will be copied to the new job folder 'en-masse' complete with new job number. Any parts which do not need to be copied (screws, etc) can be deselected in the SW Explorer window, so that associativty will remain to the original parts.

Come to think of it, if you have truly standard suite of moulds & just insert cavities & cores to suit, then all you really need to rename are the cavities & cores themselves. The standard mould & parts can carry their own "standard" number.

from (the City of) Barrie, Ontario.

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