Modeling mold inserts

1. Select the plastic elements that touch the insert.
2. Create a new layer and assign the selected elements to it.
   Tip: Use the new layer to ensure all the elements that touch the insert are selected.
3. Click (Geometry tab > Create panel > Inserts) .
4. Select all the elements on the new layer defined in step 2.
5. Select the mold insert direction. The default direction Part Normal will not work when there are elements in multiple planes. The most common direction in which to create an insert is the Z direction (the direction in which the mold opens).
   Note: You can select to extend the insert using the Projection distance by a specified distance. Enter the Specified distance as the total length the insert will be after creation. A positive value indicates the extrusion direction with be in the positive direction along the selected axis.
6. Select Apply to create the insert. A new layer is created. On this layer there is a copy of the selected part elements with a mold insert property, and any additional elements required to create the insert to part gap defined by the Specified distance.
7. Assign values to the properties:
   • material properties
   • interface conductivity
8. Ensure the mold insert and the part are correctly oriented by clicking (Mesh tab > Mesh Diagnostics > Orientation). The orientation of an insert is the same as that of a Dual Domain model: the blue side points outward.
9. Delete the elements where the cooling channel passes through the mold insert. Failure to do this may lead to analysis convergence problems.
10. Update the mold material properties for the cooling channel elements that pass through the mold insert.