Mold Design Menu: Runner Tools

Access: Open this group of functions from one of the following locations:

  • Select Mold Design > Runner from the menu bar. Select the required function.

  • Select Runner Design from the Mold Design Guide Toolbar. Select the required function.

This group of functions is used to quickly and easily design runners in the mold using a specialized group of functions that simplify the creation of runners.

Runners are channels through which molten material flows from the sprue to the gates to fill a mold cavity. By definition, a runner is created between two plates. It can cut one of the plates or both of them.

  • Sketch runners in 2D to automatically convert them into 3D runners, with easy addition of sprue bushing.

  • Design non-planar runners in 3D with a mechanism that helps avoid undercuts.

The Runner Design function enables you to:

  • Sketch runners in 2D to automatically convert them into 3D runners, with the easy addition of sprue bushings.

  • Design non-planar runners in 3D using a mechanism that helps you avoid undercuts.

This provides you with:

  • Quick creation of runners.

  • Simple integration of the runners into the mold.

The runner design process begins with a user sketch of the runners and ends with the mold being cut by the runners. Runner Part and Cut by Runner features are created.

The following functions are available in this group:

Add Runner

Add an external runner to the assembly.

Cut by Runner

Cut plates and inserts by the runner body.

Gate Design

Design the melt entrance gate.

Line

Create a line.

Merge

Merge objects together.

Parallel Plane

Create a parallel plane (in a runner part) to have a runner contour created on it. A runner part will be created if it does not already exist.

Pattern Sketch

Create a sketch in a runner part. A runner part will be created if it does not already exist.

Runner Bodies

Create an object that defines the runner; this will be created around the runner contour.

Runner part

When entering any of the Runner functions for the first time, per assembly, MoldDesign automatically creates a Runner Part. A Preference option defines whether to create the runner part under the main assembly or under the active sub-assembly.

The runner part behaves as a standard Cimatron part that was created in the assembly environment.

The examples below, show the runner part under the main assembly.

Cut by Runner

The Cut by Runner operation takes place in the assembly environment and is based on the Assembly Cut operation.

Within every part that is cut by the Runner Part, a Cut By Runner feature is created.

Some functionality may be dependent on the product package. Contact your Reseller if you require a license.