Two-Plate Mold Base Kinematics

In this section, we examine the kinematic constraints of a two-plate mold base. A two-plate mold base contains two key constraints:

• PL1 between the core plate (BP and the cavity plate (AP).
• Ejection between the ejector plate (EP) and the bottom clamp plate (BCP).

1. Change to the Model browser and expand the Mold_Kinematics _MB (Mold Base) assembly node.
   Tip: Choose the drop-down at the top of the browser to switch between Mold Design, Model, and Representations browser display.
2. Expand Mold_Kinematics_MB_SA-S-AP to view the constraints

   Notice the mate constraint named PL1. Right-click PL1 and select Other Half in the context menu to locate the second half of the constraint.

   The browser exposes the second half of the constraint contained in Mold_Kinematics_MB_SA-S-BP.

3. Expand Mold_Kinematics_MB_SA-EP to view the constraints.

   Notice the mate constraint named Ejection. Right-click Ejection and select Other Half in the context menu.

   The browser exposes the second half of the constraint contained in Mold_Kinematics_MB_SA-BCP.

4. On the Model browser, expand the Representations node.
5. Expand the Position node. Notice there are five representations; Master, Product Open, Ejection, Close, and Free Drag.
   • Right-click the Product Open node and click Activate, Observe the position change.
   • Right-click the Ejection node and click Activate. Observe the position change.
   • Right-click the Close node and click Activate. Observe the position change.
   • Right-click the Free Drag node and click Activate. Drag the movable components on the graphics screen.
6. Right-click the Master node and click Activate.
7. Note: Edits to the mold are disabled unless the mold is in the closed position and Master representation.
8. Enable the Representations browser.
9. Expand the Positional Representations node. Notice that the representations are also located in this node.
10. Make sure that the Master representation is active and then activate the Mold Design browser.
11. Close the file without saving your changes and reopen it.

    In the next section, you insert a 3-plate mold base.

    If you saved the file, on the Mold Design browser, right-click the Mold Base node and choose Delete.

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