The names and locations of Inventor Mold Design files are determined when they are created. If you modify them later, file dependencies are not maintained. The only exceptions are the file names of the top Mold Design assembly. You can rename these files without adversely affecting dependencies.

You can choose to allow the system to create the required files and locations without prompting, or you can enable the option Prompt for File Names. The default is to allow the system to set the file names and locations.

To enable Prompt for File Names, start a new mold assembly or open an existing mold assembly file. In the Mold Design browser, right-click the top node and select Prompt for File Names. The selection is persistent between sessions.

After you enable Prompt for File Names, the File Naming dialog box displays each time a new file is generated. You can accept the default names and locations, or specify unique names and locations. Options in the dialog box allow you to maintain the assembly path in child documents and rename model browser nodes to match file names.

File name abbreviations

Naming rules apply to all files that are created using the default naming scheme in the Mold Design application. To simplify file management, the following abbreviations are used.

MA

Mold Design assembly - top-level assembly containing all standard and custom components.

LY

Layout assembly - Contains design files for a single plastic part. Several layout assemblies can be located under the Mold Design top assembly. The layout assembly enables you to construct a family mold for multiple plastic parts.

PZ

Part zone assembly - Contains design files for a cavity in a plastic part. Several duplicated part zone assemblies can be located under a layout assembly. The part zone assembly enables you to create the mold design for a plastic part with multiple cavities.

MP

A moldable part that is derived from a BP (basic part) and is scaled with shrinkage value. The mold design is based on the MP, including the core and cavity design and the design of standard components.

WP

Workpiece

CR

Core

CV

Cavity

IS

Insert Sketch

IN

Insert

CH

Cooling Channel

RG

Runner

MB

Mold Base

SA

Slider Assembly

LA

Lifter Assembly

LS

Lock Sets

AP

Mold Base Cavity Plate

BP

Mold Base Core Plate

EP

Mold Base Ejector Plate

BCP

Mold Base Bottom Clamping Plate

RSP

Mold Base Runner Stripper Plate

TCP

Mold Base Top Clamping Plate

Files created by Mold Design

Mold Design Top Assembly

Defined in the Create Mold Design dialog. Called .iam.

Layout Assembly

__LY.iam

Part Zone Assembly

__PZ.iam

Moldable Part

__MP.ipt

Workpiece

__WP.ipt

Core

__CR.ipt

Cavity

__CV.ipt

Insert Sketch

__IS.ipt

Insert

__IN.ipt

Cooling Channel

_CH.ipt

Runner

_RG.ipt

Mold Base

_MB.iam

Slider Assembly

__SA.iam

Lifter Assembly

__LA.iam

Lock Sets

_LS.iam

File name legend:

The Mold Design top assembly name that is defined in the Create Mold Design dialog box.

The name of the related plastic part.

The index numbers that automatically increment to indicate a unique file name by default.

Files loaded from Content Center

Ejector

_Ejector.ipt

Core Pin

_Core Pin.ipt

Stop Pin

_Ejector Pin_Stop Pin.ipt or _Core Pin_Stop Pin.ipt

Sprue Bushing

File Name in Content Center

Locating Ring

File Name in Content Center

Subcomponents for mold base

File Name in Content Center

Subcomponents for slider assembly

File Name in Content Center

Subassembly for lifter assembly

File Name in Content Center

Subassembly for lock set assembly

File Name in Content Center

Cooling Components

File Name in Content Center

File name legend:

The Mold Design top assembly name that is defined in the Create Mold Design dialog.

The name of the related plastic part.

The index numbers that automatically increment to indicate a unique file name by default.