eBook

Why Mold Makers Need an

Integrated, Dedicated CAD/
CAM Software Solution
Reduce Delivery Time, Improve Mold Quality,
Maximize ROI
Contents
03 Why Switch?
• Challenges
• Solution
• Results

05 What 5 Key Elements Should You Look for in a CAD/CAM Solution?

• Integrated CAD/CAM Solution
• Dedicated Solution for Mold Design and Manufacturing
• Cutting-Edge Technology and Innovation
• Ease-of-Use and Smooth Implementation
• Quick Return on Investment

14 What Should You Look for in a Software Provider?

• Professional Training and Support from Tooling Experts
• Flexible Licensing Model
• Proven Results

15 Does a Solution Already Exist?

16 Ready to Learn More?

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 Why Switch?
You might be wondering whether switching to a
new CAD/CAM is worth the headache. Let’s explore.

Challenges
As a mold maker, you have probably experienced challenges with your current software including:

Working with Inefficient Mold Handling Complex

Multiple Solutions Design Capabilities and Large Molds
Multiple software solutions for CAD and CAM can General-purpose software without dedicated The inability to handle complex or large molds
lead to data translation errors, using the wrong file, tools to create the features you need efficiently can result in missed revenue opportunities.
and not being able to work concurrently, resulting wastes a lot of time and effort.
in increased manufacturing time and costs.

Handling Poor Technical

Changes Support
Your current software can’t handle engineering Your current technical support can’t assist with
change orders (ECOs), so you struggle to complex, mold-related issues, isn’t local, or
integrate each change order. doesn’t offer live assistance.

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 “A bonus for us was going from three software
platforms trying to get our product out the door to
one that was all integrated—a one-stop shop for
mold making. That helped us tremendously.”
Pat Stevens, Engineering Manager, Liberty Molds, Inc., Portage, MI, USA

Solution

Integrated CAD/CAM software that’s dedicated for mold design and manufacturing

Results
The right CAD/CAM software solution can help you address these challenges, as well as:

Reduce Delivery Time Improve Tool Quality Gain a Competitive Edge

• Streamline entire mold-making process. •A

 chieve superb part surface quality. • Handle any mold complexity or size.

• Eliminate data translation errors and • Program any CNC and EDM machine. • Incorporate new technologies.
handle ECOs.
• Practice safe machining and prolong •G
 et help from local experts.
• Automate mold design and NC cutting tool life.
programming tasks.

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 What 5 Key Elements Should You Look for in a CAD/CAM Solution?
There are many CAD and CAM solutions on the market. Some focus on the design/CAD side only, some focus on
the manufacturing/CAM side only, and some are general solutions for manufacturing with no mold-making focus.

Few solutions offer a truly integrated CAD/CAM solution for mold makers.

Integrated Dedicated Cost-Effective

Deliver molds faster with an Boost productivity with a dedicated Realize a quick return
integrated CAD/CAM solution. solution for mold makers. on investment (ROI).

Cutting-Edge Easy-to-Use
Gain a competitive edge with cutting- Streamline your transition with an
edge technology and innovation. intuitive, easy-to-use interface.

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 With the right solution you can: “We have virtually automated the machine
programming. We can now program up to 10,000
electrodes a year with one system and one person,
and process them accordingly. This efficiency


provides us a competitive advantage.”
Deliver molds faster.
Thomas Viebrans, Managing Partner, VMR GmbH & Co. KG,
Mönchweiler, Germany

 Boost productivity.

 Gain a competitive advantage.

 Streamline your transition.

 Realize a quick return on investment.

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 Integrated CAD/CAM Solution

With a single CAD/CAM interface that spans design to “The fact that we’re all on the same platform has really
manufacturing, there is no need to switch between multiple helped streamline and speed up our operations.”
solutions, enabling you to: Don Miller, Senior Mold Designer, PTA Plastics, Oxford, CT, USA

• Compress delivery cycles with concurrent •E

 asily handle ECOs with built-in associativity— •E
 liminate data translation errors and costly
engineering capabilities that allow multiple identify, perform, and automatically implement mistakes resulting from using the wrong file and
designers to work simultaneously on the changes on the relevant area of the assembly. save time by ensuring all users work on fully
same project. up-to-date projects in all environments (design,
•M
 aintain data integrity between design data and
drawing, electrode, or NC).
•S
 ave time by working on the electrode design manufacturing data.
and NC programming while the design is still
in progress.

One software solution for the entire mold-making workflow, from quoting, to design, to manufacturing:

Data Preliminary Mold

Quoting Parting Drawing Electrodes NC Programming
Import Design Design

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 D
 edicated Solution for Mold Design and
Manufacturing “Where most shops will do 10- to 14-week tool builds,
our average tool build is 5–7 weeks for production
While there are many CAD and CAM solutions on the market, tooling and 1-3 weeks for prototypes, depending on
the complexity of the mold.”
it’s important to look for a solution with functionality specific
Ted Stender, President and CEO, Allegiance Mold, LLC, Portage, MI, USA
to mold design and manufacturing.
Mold-specific, time-saving features can help you be more efficient and ultimately
deliver molds faster.

Mold shops that use an integrated CAD/CAM solution that’s dedicated for tooling have reported:

     
UP TO UP TO UP TO UP TO MORE THAN UP TO

100% 50% 50% 30% 22% 70%

REDUCTION REDUCTION REDUCTION REDUCTION REDUCTION FASTER
in translation errors in mold design time in time to pull and in manufacturing time in cycle time with tool delivery time
burn electrodes conformal cooling

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 Mold Design (CAD)
A good mold design application enables you to increase “As a result of automating the design process,
overall engineering time has been reduced by
productivity and take on any project with confidence, regardless
about half, a development that accounts for much
of part complexity. of the company’s current prosperity.”
Darcy King, President and CEO, Unique Tool & Gauge, Inc.,
Windsor, Ontario, Canada
The design of a mold is different than that of a part, so look for CAD tools that were created
with mold-making in mind. They should include dedicated mold design features and tools
that help standardize and increase efficiency and drastically decrease design time.

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 Mold Design (CAD)

CAD FEATURES

 Direct data import  

edicated, applicative design tools for lifters, inserts, slides, ejectors,
D
cooling channels, conformal cooling, runners, and gates
 Quoting
 P
reliminary mold design including analysis; splitting core, cavity,  M
otion analysis and collision detection
sliders, and lifters; parting surfaces creation; and steel sizes  
rawing templates including customizable bill of materials (BOM) for
D
automatic drawing creation
 
ybrid modeling with 2D and 3D design options using both surface
H
and solid operations  E
CO management

 

S tandard and non-standard mold-base design using standard or  C
oncurrent engineering
custom catalogs with cutting objects for all components
 A
utomated electrode design and templates with EDM machine programming

CAD BENEFITS

 S
tart working immediately with any input geometry.

 E
asily manage visibility and work inside the closed box that is a mold.

 H
andle molds of any size and complexity to address the needs of any industry.

 Q
uickly and easily position and control the size of mold components while keeping top-level accuracy and control of parameters
by enabling more free-hand design for positioning of components, their length, etc.

 E
asily implement ECOs to mold components by maintaining associativity with initial parting work throughout the process.

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 Mold Manufacturing (CAM)
“The ability to take a CAD model to the machine and
Making molds, mold components, and electrodes requires fast, start cutting the steel or put an electrode on it, pull
easy-to-use programming that produces safe, effective, and it out, and take it directly to the machine all in one
package is a big benefit. I don’t have to switch to a
high-quality machining.
different system or call in any external tools—I just
have one software that does everything for me.”
A dedicated CAM software solution that was developed to specifically address these Jim Penar, NC Programmer, Liberty Molds, Inc., Portage, MI, USA

requirements and includes dedicated NC tools meets the specific needs of NC programmers
and enables them to work faster and deliver higher-quality molds.

So look for NC programming tools that include automation with full user control, are easy
to use, and were created with mold making in mind.

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 Mold Manufacturing (CAM)

CAM FEATURES

 Built-in CAD functionality (solid, surfaces, and mesh)  Stock knowledge with tool, holder, and machine gauge checking

 2.5- to 5-axis milling capabilities including continuous multi-axis  Dedicated electrode programming tools

 Quick and efficient roughing  Toolpath and machine simulation

 High-quality finishing with polish-free surfaces  Direct, dedicated post-processors

 P
late machining and feature-based machining (FBM) for full automation  NC setup and tool table reports
including automated drilling and pocket management

CAM BENEFITS

 P
rogram multi-axis, high-quality components of any complexity.  M
achine molds faster with confidence while protecting machines
and tools.
 Achieve high-quality tools with superb surface quality.
 Program CNC machines easier and faster with flexible automation.
 Machine any component, from simple 2.5-axis milling and drilling
to complex 5-axis machining and micro milling.

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 “It pays for itself. If someone were to ask me, a
small shop owner, what is the biggest benefit, then
that would be it­—you have one platform that does
everything you need.”
Pat Stevens, Engineering Manager, Liberty Molds, Inc., Portage, MI, USA

Cutting-Edge Technology Ease-of-Use and Smooth Quick Return on

and Innovation Implementation Investment
Maintain a competitive advantage with new Transition to a new integrated CAD/CAM system Your investment in a new integrated CAD/CAM
capabilities that help mold makers deliver faster, smoothly with little to no productivity loss by system should pay for itself.
better-quality, lower-cost molds. selecting a software solution that is easy to use
Many mold shops that have made the switch have
and learn.
It’s important to pick a software solution that has realized a return on investment (ROI) in six months
the latest mold-making technology and a software Look for an intuitive user interface with built- or less.
vendor that is committed to regular updates with in online help menus and mold-specific tools
new features that you can integrate into your and automation that make mold design and NC
existing workflow for added value. programming easier.

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 What Should You Look for “The training and learning process has been quick

in a Software Provider? and the benefits were clearly worth the effort. In
addition, the technical support resources have been
extremely helpful in smoothing out any issues that
Pinpointing what CAD/CAM solution features you need is only came up during the transition.”

part of the equation when looking for a new, integrated solution. Rich Dorans, VP of Operations, PTA Plastics, Oxford, CT, USA

Professional Training and Flexible Licensing

Support from Tooling Experts Model
It’s important to select a software company that offers local support in your Make sure you understand how the software is licensed when you’re shopping
language by tooling experts who use their industry knowledge to assist for a new, integrated CAD/CAM system.
customers with unparalleled dedication and expertise including:
Ideally, a CAD/CAM software provider will offer a choice between subscription,
•T
 raining programs that help make switching your CAD/CAM software perpetual, and floating or view-only licenses to meet the unique requirements
seamless with the option to have a trainer come to your shop. of your shop.

•T
 echnical support by mold-making industry experts who can assist you in
your language via phone and/or remote access. Proven
•R
 egular, regional user group meetings where you can learn about the latest Results
features from experts and network with other users.
You’ll also want to make sure the software provider who developed the
integrated CAD/CAM solution has a proven track record, along with
experience in, and dedication to, the mold-making industry.

• Years of experience • Number of customers

• OEMs • Industries

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 Does a Solution Already Exist? “Cimatron has enabled us to produce more per hour,
so we can compete more effectively with companies
With Cimatron® software, you get an integrated and overseas. And when it comes to the really difficult
dedicated CAD/CAM solution for the design and stuff, no other software can do what Cimatron can.”
manufacturing of molds, dies, and tools. Thomas LaMarca, Jr., Owner, L&Z Tool and Engineering, Inc.,
Watchung, NJ, USA

Designed to meet the unique challenges faced by mold makers today, Cimatron enables
toolmakers to deliver high-quality tools of any complexity and size in record time. With a
wide range of dedicated applicative tools as well as full range of CNC technologies, from
simple 2.5-axis milling and drilling to complex 5-axis machining, Cimatron users can
dramatically increase their productivity, competitiveness, and profitability.

Cimatron checks all the boxes:

 Integrated CAD/CAM solution  Flexible licensing options

Single, intuitive,
 easy-to-use interface
 Quick ROI

 esigned for mold

D
 makers by mold makers
 Proven results since 1982

 Handles any mold  Over 40,000 installations

Cutting-edge technology  ocal training and support from

L
 and innovation
 tooling experts

Annual regional user group
 Regular updates  meetings

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Ready to Learn More?
See Cimatron in action and get your questions
answered by an expert.

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