creating a vacuum mold?

[can machine]

I've got a solid model of a finished part. The customer wants us to make a vacuum mold for that part. It a little dome shaped plastic cover. I need to create the male shape that would go inside that part. Is there a easy way to do that from the existing model? I'm using X2. Thanks.

[DODGERFAN]

boelen remove?

[can machine]

boelen remove?

 

How do you do that? Please explain.

 

Thanks

[DODGERFAN]

i will try. make a solid of a box on another level. Bring up the part level, the part should be half inside the box. then open your solids menue and click boelen remove, follow the promt. It will ask to choose wich to keep and wich to remove. it should end up just opposit of the part.

[JDowe]

If you dont have solids create a surface from the solid and use wireframe geometry to

create the rest of the mold

[can machine]

I've tried a bunch of things and I keep getting an error:

 

Parasolid® Kernal Interface Error

Boolean Error

Face imprinting operation failed

[DODGERFAN]

I've tried a bunch of things and I keep getting an error:

 

Parasolid® Kernal Interface Error

Boolean Error

Face imprinting operation failed

i just did it on a simple part with no problems. make sure you use a copy of the model because when you do the boelen remove you will lose that model. if you want to send it i will give it a shot.

[DODGERFAN]

here is a sample.. hope it helps

[can machine]

Here's the file. I can't seem to open the file you posted. You might be using a newer version than me I'm more of a machinist than a computer guy. LOL

4132897-02.MCX

[DODGERFAN]

I cant suppress the inside. I need a solid with all the entities to be able to do it

[can machine]

Do all the entities not show up for you? Not sure what you mean?

[can machine]

I have been playing around some more. Now I get a error:

 

Parasolid® Kernal Interface Error

Boolean Error

Operation would result in a non-manifold body

[DODGERFAN]

sorry dude, dont mean to leave you hangin, just got really busy. i will be in tomorrow and i will have more time to play with it.

[LaszloK]

The reference to a non-manifold body is because the boolean operation (subtract) would have 2 results. The block will have a cavity for the part outside and a solid for the inside of your part. Use the -->solids -->non-associative -->remove na menu and you should get a result. I do vacuum molds all the time and I get the part solids from a solidworks system. I find it much easier and more reliable in the long run to create the mold geometry from scratch. I create 2D geometry and new solids and do not try and use the imported solid. If you need to make 1 change to the mold afterwards you will not regret the extra time spent on creating the mold from scratch.

[Roger]

Is this what your after? See attached file, (if I can figure out how to attach it)

[DODGERFAN]

Is this what your after? See attached file, (if I can figure out how to attach it)

Hey Roger,

What method did you use?

[Reko]

Hey Roger,

What method did you use?

 

Boolean Remove worked for me. I just used your file.

[DODGERFAN]

Boolean Remove worked for me. I just used your file.

BOELEN REMOVE IS A GOOD TOOL, JUST TAKES A LITTLE FOOLIN AROUND WITH.

[Roger]

I plugged the holes, and used boolean remove.

[can machine]

Thanks for all your help. I finally received a e-mail from my Mastercam rep late on Friday. He made me a little tutorial video explaining how it is done. And yes the holes were what was causing me problems, so I filled them in. I played around with it this weekend and I think I've got it now. Thanks again.