Creating a Form Block

You can generate the inner insert or the head of the slider and lifter system dedicated to unmold the undercut areas of the plastic part.

The Form Block

  • Can be a block of metal, created on the plastic part, for inner inserts, slider and lifter.
  • Can be created either on the shape or on the insert.
The belt of faces around the extruded profile can be drafted.

  1. From the Molded Part section in the action bar, click Form Block .
  2. Select the construction option from the list.

    By default, the creation On shape is proposed.

    • On shape
      • If only one pulling direction exists, its input shape is automatically selected.
      • If there is no hole with respect to the extrusion direction, you can validate the feature. The Form Block is similar to a volume up the surface/volume/solid.

      • If there are holes with respect to the extrusion direction, select a set of surfaces to fill. The Form Block is computed from an extrude up to extremity, a Boolean remove operation and a split by the Fill Hole.

    • On inserts
      • This option is proposed if you select a Core Insert or a Cavity Insert. You can also select the option.
      • The Form Block is generated as an extrude up to extremity, a Boolean intersection operation and a near.

  3. Select or create the sketch.

    The sketch must be contained by the shape along the extrusion direction.

    The extrusion direction is as follows:

    • If the sketch is outside the shape, the Form Block is generated from the sketch to the shape.
    • If the sketch is inside the part the Form Block is generated with an extrusion direction on the nearest.

    Tip: Under Advanced Options, select
    • Computed Direction to keep the proposed direction.

    • Reversed Direction to invert the proposed direction.

  4. Select or create the shape or insert.
  5. Select the Parting Line.

    Using the parting line avoids leaving marks on the injected parts.

    Note: If you select a multi-domains parting line, a Sketch Offset is mandatory.

  6. Under Advanced Options, specify a Draft angle value to apply to the border faces of the sketch.
    This ensures that the mechanism that contains the Form Block can slide.

    The draft is oriented along the extrusion direction.
  7. Select the Draft Mode
    • Default: The neutral face is the sketch plane.
    • Reversed: The neutral face is the face from the Form Block that is embedded in the injected part.
  8. Enter the value of the Parling Line Offset.
  9. Select a type of Form Block, either Block, Slider, or Lifter.

A Form Block feature is created in the tree. It contains the DraftAngle parameter.

Below are some examples:

  • Using a parting line, a draft angle, and an offset of the sketch.

  • Using a parting line, no draft angle, and an offset of the sketch.

  • Using a parting line, a draft angle, and no offset on the parting line.

  • Using a multi-domains parting line, a draft angle, and a mandatory Sketch Offset.

  • Using no parting line, but a reversed draft with an angle.