A feature-based approach to automatic injection mold generation

This paper presents a feature-based approach to the automatic generation of an injection mold. In the approach, all the molding features of a molded part are recognized first using a universal hint-based feature recognition algorithm, and the optimal parting direction is determined based on the feature model. Then, all the faces related with the parting line are classified into three groups according to the determined parting direction, and two kinds of parting lines are automatically determined by extracting the largest profile of each face group. Finally, the parting surface is generated based on the optimal pacing line, thereafter the mold core and mold cavity are automatically set up by splitting the mold box of the molded part with the generated parting surface. By using recognized molding features, the approach makes it possible to identify all undercuts, to determine internal parting lines and internal parting surfaces, to generate the mold core and cavity of a complex molded part with undercuts as well.