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[Bennet Price]

hi, what software would you recommend for efficient mold tool design? My project involves an injection mold tool for a plastic part with complex undercuts and tight tolerances (±0.02 mm) for a consumer electronics enclosure. The mold will need to have ejector pins and side-action mechanisms to handle the geometry, and I’m looking for recommendations on the best CAD software to design these features. I currently use SolidWorks but wonder if other specialized software like Siemens NX or Moldflow offers significant advantages when it comes to optimizing cooling channels, gate placement, and draft analysis.

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[DrewK87]

Solidworks is a great tool when it comes to 3D modeling the injection mold tool cavities and the product itself, but may not be the best option when it comes to simulating mold filling, cooling, and ejection.
If cost and learning curve aren’t an issue, I’d recommend Siemens NX for an all-in-one solution. NX is great when it comes to modeling mold-specific features like automated parting line creation, advanced cooling channel design, and integrated mold flow analysis. If you’re working with tight tolerances and complex mechanisms, NX offers better capabilities than SolidWorks.

If you’re looking for analysis tools to complement SolidWorks, however, Moldflow is a great choice. It isn’t really a CAD tool but is great for optimizing cooling, gate placement, and warpage analysis. You can use it alongside your existing SolidWorks models to validate your mold design before manufacturing.
Another option is Creo. It has a dedicated mold design module that can handle side actions and complex parting surfaces well. It’s a solid alternative to NX if you’re looking for a balance between power and usability.

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[EngineerNearby38]

Since you’re already using SolidWorks, you might also want to look into SolidWorks Plastics for mold flow simulation. It’s not as advanced as Moldflow, but it’s a good way to validate basic cooling and gate designs without switching software entirely.

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