Envy, France - May 5, 2011 Missler Software has announced the launch of TopSolid’Mold 2011. TopSolid’Mold is an integrated CAD/CAM solution for the design of molds and the machining of tools for mold makers and cutting tool makers. To be efficient a CAD mold making solution should propose increased automation for repetitive mold design operations. In order to manage all projects the CAD software should ideally be completely integrated with a CAD/CAM solution that can manage all shaped forms, general mechanical engineering and machining operations in a parametric and associative way. Thanks to these qualities TopSolid’Mold has become a worldwide reference in the design and manufacture of molds.

TopSolid’Mold manages the design of the mold, the machining of the mold base, milling mold cavities, electrode production and mold assembly.

Missler Software has taken manufacturing constraints and imperatives into account when developing TopSolid’Mold and the 2011 new functions and improvements of the version have clearly an eye on manufacturing. TopSolid’Mold 2011 offers improved functions such as a more intuitive ergonomy, improved cavity block management, plastic injection simulation and a complete solution for the design and manufacturing of electrodes.

Simplified ergonomy

TopSolid’Mold has numerous management tools aimed to simplify a moldmaker’s life. The ergonomy of these functions has been worked on and simplified by offering intuitive shortcuts to these functions. Mold visualization is now, for example, available via a quick mold visualization icon which allows the user to quickly see his study without having to juggle between several windows. The link to the shortcuts is direct which offers instantaneous management and increased productivity. Neutral mode management for mold elements is now also possible. 

Cavity block creation

The design of cavity block elements demands precision and perfect control. New surface tools dedicated to tool makers are now directly available in TopSolid’Design which offer flexibility and control in your design work from the design of parting surfaces to insert design and repairing imported data in TopSolid’Design. Not only do these new tools offer a more simplified and efficient management, the new “angled” parting surface function is the ideal extension of existing TopSolid’Mold tools.

Design… and simulation

A mold maker needs to validate his design before the manufacturing stage. The direct link from TopSolid to the Cadmoul software from Simcon offers TopSolid’Mold users an optimised tool for the design of plastic parts and can be used as a first step in determining the feasibility, quality and cost of designing their parts and injection molds. The TopSolid’Mold operator can now analyse the part(s) to be injected as well as the various feeding elements: the runners, gates and the injection sections are automatically transferred to and recognized by Cadmould which manages the simulation of the injection process. Cadmould gives the results of your simulation analysis and validates or offers alternatives options to the design and technological choices you opted for in TopSolid’Mold.

TopSolid’Electrode

TopSolid’Electrode is an essential tool for mold makers who need to design and build electrodes. The 2011 version offers various strategies to detect and find the zones that need to be eroded. Depending on the electrode design strategy you choose (pocket detection with or without fillets, ribs) The software highlights zones that are difficult to machine and may be subject to the creation of an electrode. You can quickly and easily create your electrodes thanks to the association with surface modeling. TopSolid’Electrode manages standard or customizable electrode stock libraries. The storage of all your electrodes in independent files is essential for the efficient preparation of your electrodes for manufacturing and overall better machining management (automatic gap recognition).