Cimatron, Moldex3D Introduce Innovative Cooling Simulation

Cimatron and CoreTech System (Moldex3D) announced an agreement to deliver an integrated cooling simulation tool within CimatronE to address the growing design needs for more efficient cooling systems in the plastics industry.

With the introduction of laser sintering technology, mold cores and inserts manufactured by 3D printing can keep the cooling channels close to the core/cavity surface as much as possible so as to achieve even and efficient cooling, the companies said. The new integration will provide CimatronE users with a tool to evaluate the benefits and return-on-investment (ROI) of conformal cooling approach.

The cooling analysis capabilities will be delivered as an optional add-on in the next release of Moldex3D eXplorer for Cimatron. Designers can design in Cimatron environment mold cores and inserts with conventional channels, baffles and bubbles, and/or incorporate complex conformal cooling channels to enhance cooling in critical regions. With Moldex3D proprietary auto-mesh technology, complex cooling channel mesh models can be automatically constructed for analysis. Based on the 3D cooling analysis results from Moldex3D, users can identify hot or cold spots, mold temperature, required cooling time, and cooling efficiency of a mold before cutting or "printing" the steel, and revise the design in CimatronE to improve the cooling performance.

"The new cooling analysis integration with Moldex3D will help our customers to design higher quality molds with improved cooling and shorter cycle times using advanced 3D printing technologies as well as traditional milling and drilling technologies," said Ira Bareket, vice president of sales and marketing at Cimatron.  "The ability to support analysis of conformal cooling will place our customers at the forefront of mold production technology."

The new capabilities will be available to end users with the next CimatronE release.

For more information, visit CoreTech System/Moldex3D and Cimatron.

Sources: Press materials received from the company and additional information gleaned from the company's website.