Solidworks Mold Design and Tooling — Questions and Answers
Question 1: In SolidWorks Mold Tools, which feature is used to split a part into core and cavity bodies?
- Parting Line
- Shut-off Surface
- Tooling Split (Correct answer)
- Parting Surface
Correct answer: Tooling Split
The Tooling Split feature uses the core/cavity interlock surfaces and the parting surface to split the mold block into the core half and the cavity half as separate solid bodies.
Question 2: Why is the Scale feature typically applied to a part body before creating mold tooling in SolidWorks?
- To increase visual display size in the graphics area
- To compensate for material shrinkage during the molding process (Correct answer)
- To match the units of the mold base supplier
- To ensure the Tooling Split feature has enough geometry to work with
Correct answer: To compensate for material shrinkage during the molding process
Molded materials shrink when they cool. The Scale feature enlarges the part geometry by the material's shrinkage factor so that after the molded part shrinks, it reaches the intended final dimensions.
Question 3: What is the purpose of the Draft Analysis tool in SolidWorks Mold Design?
- To add draft angles to all vertical faces automatically
- To identify faces that lack sufficient draft for the pull direction (Correct answer)
- To generate the parting line around the part perimeter
- To create a report of wall thickness variations
Correct answer: To identify faces that lack sufficient draft for the pull direction
Draft Analysis color-codes model faces relative to a pull direction, highlighting which faces have positive draft, negative draft, or are on the parting line. This helps the designer identify and fix faces that would prevent the part from ejecting from the mold.
Question 4: In SolidWorks Mold Tools, what is the role of the Shut-off Surface feature?
- It seals openings (holes, slots) in the part so the core and cavity surfaces form a closed volume (Correct answer)
- It trims the parting surface to the boundary of the mold block
- It defines the ejector pin locations on the core side
- It locks the mold halves together during the injection phase
Correct answer: It seals openings (holes, slots) in the part so the core and cavity surfaces form a closed volume
Shut-off surfaces are planar or ruled surfaces that fill through-holes and open pockets in the part geometry. Without them, the parting surface cannot form a complete watertight boundary between core and cavity.
Question 5: Which SolidWorks Mold Tool is used to create the flat or ruled surface that separates the core half from the cavity half at the part's perimeter?
- Parting Line
- Parting Surface (Correct answer)
- Tooling Split
- Cavity
Correct answer: Parting Surface
The Parting Surface is created after defining the Parting Line and extends outward from the parting line edge to form the boundary surface that separates the core and cavity mold halves in the Tooling Split.
Question 6: In the SolidWorks Mold Tools workflow, which step must be completed BEFORE creating shut-off surfaces?
- Tooling Split
- Parting Surface
- Parting Line (Correct answer)
- Scale
Correct answer: Parting Line
The Parting Line must be defined first because shut-off surfaces reference the parting line to understand which edges bound the core vs. cavity regions. The workflow is: Scale → Draft → Parting Line → Shut-off Surfaces → Parting Surface → Tooling Split.
Solidworks Mold Design and Tooling
In SolidWorks Mold Tools, which feature is used to split a part into core and cavity bodies?