Injection Mold Eject Direction Selection to Minimize Undercuts

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Solution Overview

Problem

Manual determination of eject directions in injection mold designs often results in non-optimal selections, leading to increased manufacturing costs, complexity, and time due to the near-infinite number of potential directions in 3D space, which inexperienced designers struggle to assess effectively.

Innovation Solution

An intelligent eject direction determination technology that algorithmically determines candidate eject directions based on minimum bounding boxes, cylindrical axes, bisecting planes, and three-point techniques, considering factors like undercut areas, to optimize the selection process.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If manual determination of eject directions is used, then design flexibility is maintained, but manufacturing cost and complexity increase due to non-optimal selections

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemanufacturing costVSAvoidmold design complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces manual mechanical assessment of eject directions with an automated computer-based system that calculates optimal directions algorithmically. The system processes 3D product models to automatically determine eject directions that minimize undercuts and manufacturing complexity, substituting human judgment with computational optimization.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The system enables the mold design process to self-optimize by automatically analyzing the product geometry and determining optimal eject directions without requiring external expert intervention. The computer system performs the optimization function that would otherwise require experienced designer knowledge and manual iteration.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

2Productivity

If manual determination of eject directions is used, then designer control is maintained, but time consumption increases due to the near-infinite number of potential directions

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedesign efficiencyVSAvoidtime for eject direction determination

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces time-consuming manual evaluation of numerous potential eject directions with an automated computational system. The computer-based system rapidly processes the 3D product model and calculates optimal eject directions, reducing the time required from hours or days of manual analysis to minutes or seconds of automated computation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The system performs preliminary automated analysis of the product geometry to pre-determine optimal eject directions before the actual mold design process begins. This preliminary action eliminates the need for time-consuming iterative adjustments during later design stages.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Manufacturing precision

If inexperienced designers determine eject directions, then design speed may increase, but manufacturing quality deteriorates due to inability to assess effectiveness

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveeject direction optimizationVSAvoiddesigner expertise requirement

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the need for designer expertise with an automated computational system that objectively analyzes product geometry and determines optimal eject directions. The system eliminates the variability and limitations of human assessment by using algorithmic optimization based on the product's 3D model, ensuring consistent high-quality results regardless of designer experience level.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Data Source

PatentUS20250296266A1Intelligent eject direction determinations for injection mold designs

Publication Date: 2025.09.25 SIEMENS INDUSTRY SOFTWARE INC

AI summary

A computing system may include an eject direction determination engine configured to determine an eject direction for an injection mold design, including by determining a set of candidate eject directions for the injection mold design, including a bounding box candidate eject direction determined based on a minimum bounding box of an object representative of a product to be manufactured through the injection mold design and selecting the eject direction for the injection mold design from the set of candidate eject directions based on eject direction determination criteria. The computing system may also include an eject direction application engine configured to set the determined eject direction for the injection mold design so that physical mold pieces constructed from the injection mold design are configured to separate from one another in the determined eject direction during an injection mold production process to manufacture the product.