Manufacturability analysis of injected parts based on a mid-surface approach

In order to save cost and time, the manufacturability of injected parts should be analysed and estimated in early design stages using some appropriate method of part representation. This paper presents the use of the mid-surface of a part to perform automatic assessment of the manufacturability of injected parts. This approach allows the manufacturability to be analysed in a short time, so that the analysis can be integrated into the stage of part modelling. The mid-surface is homotopically identical to the solid model of the part, and it can substitute the corresponding solid model in the evaluation of aspects of manufacturability such as safe demoulding. In other aspects, such as partial cycle times and abrupt changes in thickness, mid-surface offers more possibilities than a solid model because it contains an explicitly defined thickness distribution. Furthermore, mid-surface can be used for the purpose of guiding design correction. This paper outlines the foundations underlying the analysis of manufacturability aspects based on a mid-surface approach.