Compass Technologies provides engineering services in the field of mold design, utilizing all the systems we sell. When clients do not anticipate a volume of work to justify the installation of their own software system, Compass Technologies has an engineering solution that can help you reach an end-to-end solution for your job.
Translations
If the cost of a CAD file translator is prohibitive based on the need for only a few files to be translated, let Compass Technologies do your translations for you.
We can accept and return the following filetypes:
| File Format | File Extension | Accept | Return |
| CATIA V4 | .session, .exp, .mod, .model | X | X |
| CATIA V5 | .CATProduct, .CATPart | X | X |
| Unigraphics | .prt | X | X |
| Pro/Engineer | .asm, .dwg, .prt | X | |
| VISI | .wkf | X | X |
| Solidworks | .sldasm, .slddrw, .sldprt | X | X |
| Inventor | .iam, .idw, .ipt, .ipn | X | |
| Autodesk | .dwg, .dxf | X | X |
| ACIS | .sab, .sat | X | X |
| Parasolid | .x_b, .xmb_txt, .x_t, .xmt_txt | X | X |
| IGES | .iges, .igs | X | X |
| STEP | .step, .STEP, .stp | X | X |
Electrode Design
Utilizing the VISI Electrode module within our VISI Series software, Compass Technologies can help create an Electrode that will work with your design. With tools available to analyze burning area extraction, Compass Technologies can design everything from the blank, the base, and the stock, to the electrode itself. Then, using the capabilities of our VISI Machining software, we can deliver toolpaths for the creation of your electrode, complete with simulations to ensure that the part will work properly the first time.
Tool Design
Compass Technologies can do the total job of designing your mold tools – be they injection, compression, or thermoset molds. Except for the simplest of tools, every design is subjected to a regimen of analysis to assure the design will work right the first time.
Our costs are lowest because we work exclusively in solids using the VISI-Series.
Designs are delivered in many different CAD formats – VISI-Series, Parasolid, CATIA V4 or V5, Unigraphics, Solidworks, STEP, IGES, VDA, DXF, or DWG.
We guarantee our mold designs to work properly within predicted cycle times and predicted shrink and warp factors – given a specified molding machine.
Typically, we are able to begin any design job within a week of job release.
Mold Simulation
Different types of mold fill analyses can be performed on plastic parts to determine many things. The different types include:
Fill & Hold Analysis
This analysis is performed on a molding process to ensure that the cavity will fill properly with no voids, that flow fronts will meet in desired locations and will weld properly, and that the process can be accomplished within the desired cycle time and within the capacity of the molding machine. Results are typically presented in the form of either avi (windows movie) files or jpg graphic files depending on appropriateness. If bad analysis results are shown, designers can alter their design process before steel is cut thus eliminating re-work.
Shape Analysis
This analysis begins at unclamp time and considers the part following ejection as it completes its cooling process and the part geometry stabilizes. Analysis emphasis is on shrinkage and warpage. Deliverables for this type of analysis take two forms –
- A final part model in STL file format reflecting shrinkage and Warpage.
- A dual part model where two superimposed models show the original mold cavity (theoretically the “as-designed” part) and the resulting part (after shrinkage and warpage have occurred).
Thermal Analysis
This analysis is done to confirm that a mold’s cooling system is sufficient to maintain the proper mold operating temperature for producing good parts. Consideration is given to factors such as waterline location, water temperature, and heat dissipating inserts.
Process Verification
This analysis is typically performed on jobs that are already in production. It is used to verify that an analysis model does produce correct analysis results as verified by the actual process. Once a process model is verified, accurate results for prospective process model alterations can be determined.
