Week 9 - Attachment Feature Creation - Challenge 1

COIN HOLDER CENTRAL CONSOLE & RIB DESIGN

The Class A surface is provided to us. We need to create B Surface and C Surface and create a solid model. At the end we have to do draft analysis to check whether the component is manufacturable or not.

Fig 1. Class A Surface

First of all we need to check whether the surface provided has any discontinuity in it. For that we will use the command boundary and check if there is any discontinuity in the surface.

After that we will join the whole surfaces by using join command.

Fig 2. Join Command

Then we will randomly select the tooling axis. For making the selection first analyse the shape of the product and avoid side cores as far as possible. Here we will take the Y axis as the tooling direction and mark a point there and create a datum axis at that point. Take the intersect of the surface and the YZ component. We observe that there are flat surfaces, so we take a mean line in the direction of Y axis as the tooling direction. The flat surfaces cannot be changed by us. We need to take it to the styling team to create it with some draft so that it can easily clear the tooling. There is a hole in the side face so it will not get cleared in the Y direction tooling axis. So a side core tooling axis is required.

Fig 3. Tooling Axis

Now we have to perform the draft analysis in the required tooling direction.

Fig 4. Draft analysis in the tooling direction

When there are inner and outer holes or undercuts on the plastic part that are different from the mold opening direction usually a side core is used. Here also to clear the ribs we need to have a side core. So side core tooling axis is created and draft analysis is done in that direction.

Fig 5. Side Core Tooling Axis

Fig 6. Draft analysis along the Side Core Tooling Axis

Now we have to create B Surface which is the Engineering Surface. All the features like holes embosses are created on the B Surface. For that we have to extract A surfaces, extend it and then trim it and apply the required fillets.

Fig 7. Class B Surfaces

Then we have to create C Surface. C surface is the surface which joins the A Surface with the B Surface. Extract the boundary of the A surface and sweep it in 90 degree with reference to the surface. Join both A and C Surface.

Fig 8. Class A + C Surface

Trim both the A + C Surface with the class B Surface. Then by using close surface command from the part workbench, turn the component into a Solid.

Fig 9. Solid Component

Draft analysis for the solid model on the tooling axis:

Fig 10. Draft analysis of the solid component along the Tooling Axis

Fig 11. Draft analysis of the solid component along the Side Core Tooling Axis

Some of the views of the solid model:

Fig 12. Isometric View

Fig 12. Side View

Fig 13. Top View

RIB DESIGN:

Ribs are a feature in plastic injection molded parts. They are thin extensions that run perpendicular from a wall or plane. They are commonly used to provide additional support and strength to a part. Thickness and location are essential to rib design.

Important Design Considerations while designing a rib:

Fig 14. Design considerations for Rib Design

The rib thickness should be 0.4T (thickness of the component) i.e 0.4 x 2.5 = 1mm.

Fig 15. Thickness of the Rib

The height of the rib should be < 5T = 5 x 2.5 = 12.5. Here it is coming out be 10mm which is less than 12.5 so it will do.

Fig 16. Rib Height

The rib thickness at tip should be > 0.75.

Fig 17. Rib thickness at top

The fillet radius should be max 0.25.

Fig 18. Fillet Radius

The rib root thickness should be +-30% of the component thickness. The rib root thickness is calculated by drawing a circle which is tanget to all the sides and then measuring the diameter of the circle. Here the dia of the circle is 2.6mm and the thickness of the component is 2.5mm. So the 2.6mm is within the permissible limit of +-30% of the component thickness.

Fig 19. Rib Root Thickness

Now to find the spacing between the two ribs. The height to space between the ribs ratio should be 3:1. Here the height is 10mm and the space to be find out. By calculating we will get 3.3mm. The minimum distance should be 3.3mm. Here the spacing between the ribs is 5.5mm which is perfect.

Fig 20. Spacing between the ribs

Draft analysis of the whole component:

Fig 21. Draft Analysis

Fig 22. Draft Analysis

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