Overmolding is present in two different situations; the first is the overmolding of metal, such as a computer connector, and the second is overmolding of plastic, such as a toothbrush during manufacturing. SOLIDWORKS Plastics can handle both situations. With advances in plastics and injection machines, you can go beyond the push pin connectors and the straight-as-an-arrow toothbrush. Along with plastics and machines, we also experienced enhancements in the design capabilities area. So you could say it is the perfect storm and we all benefit. Designing more aesthetically pleasing parts takes the main stage, while parts that would normally need a secondary operation are now a thing of the past. No matter what you are designing, you can quickly make changes, mesh, and re-run the study. Not only are you designing in 3D or running the analysis, but you are also working directly on the 3D model.

We can overmold inserts and set the material for both plastic part and over-molded insert pins. With the two materials set, all we have to do is mesh, set the injection location, and run the study. With configurations, we will be able to try different materials that will fit your needs. All you need to do is change material and re-run the study.

Once you have the material for the plastics, you can start looking at the inserts to be overmolded. In this example, there are multiple inserts with different materials that can be selected. The insert on the boss is copper, and at the base of the body, we can pick steel.  Now we can add an injection location, set the press size, and run the study.

Once the study has run, we can start looking at the results. Selecting the temperature after fill, we can use the measure tool to check temperature differences in multiple areas of the part. Doing this will give you an idea of where extra cooling in the cavities and core blocks is located. Overmolding, in this case, helps catch design considerations early in the process.

Over-molding is very useful by eliminating a secondary process. The toothbrush and connector are examples of plastic over-molding that will help with production. Over-molding opens the door for new ideas to streamline your process for production. Reflecting on past molds, you could have saved time and effort with this simple process. Let SOLIDWORKS Plastics work for you before going into production.

Jeff Osman

Jeff Osman has more than 23 years of experience in the mechanical CAD industry. As Senior Technical Sales Specialist Plastics NA, he is responsible for all technical Sales of SolidWorks products, focusing on SolidWorks Plastics, for North America and has been with SolidWorks for 19 years. Prior to joining SolidWorks, Jeff was a senior technical manager with Microcadam, a division of IBM. In addition, he has held several manufacturing positions with companies Processed Plastics, Plano Molding and Furnas/Siemens Electric.