Process Defaults and Thresholds
The table below lists some of the important plant variables, together with default values and descriptions.
Follow these steps to access plant variables for a given VPE and process:
1 select Tools > VPE Toolset, and then click the Cost Model Workbench button in the VPE Toolset window.
2 Click + to expand the desired VPE in the Open Cost Model window, and then double click the Plastic Molding process group.
3 In the Cost Model Workbench, click + to expand Global Cost Model Information, and then double click Cost Model Variables.
 
Variable
Value
Unit Type
Units
Description
betweenPartsMoldBorder150T
38.1
Length
millimeter
Spacing between parts in the mold if press tonnage is less than 150 tons.
betweenPartsMoldBorder300T
50.8
Length
millimeter
Spacing between parts in the mold if press tonnage is less than or equal to 300 tons.
betweenPartsMoldBorder500T
76.2
Length
millimeter
Spacing between parts in the mold if press tonnage is greater than 300 tons.
defaultMoldConstruction
'Standard Mold Base'
 
 
Standard Mold Base' versus 'Custom Mold Base' as the default for the VPE. (Tooling cost driver)
defaultNumTryOuts
3
 
 
Default number of tryouts. (Tooling Cost Driver)
defaultPercentGas
0
 
 
Default usage percentage by part weight for physical gas. Only applicable for Structural Foam Molding. User may override via Process Setup Options.
defaultRegrindAllowance
0.25
 
 
Default allowable percentage of runners and scrap allowed with virgin material. (Material cost driver)
minSFMWallThickness
3
Length
millimeter
Minimum part wall thickness feasibility threshold for the Structural Foam Molding process.
percentFilled
0.75
 
 
Percentage of the mold that is initially filled before foam expansion occurs. Only applicable for Structural Foam Molding. User may override via Process Setup Options.
scrapTimeInMinutes_IM
15
Time
minute
Initial setup time for Injection Molding where parts are assumed to be scrap. Determine the setup cost per part.
scrapTimeInMinutes_RIM
30
Time
minute
Initial setup time for Reaction Injection Molding where parts are assumed to be scrap. Determine the setup cost per part.
scrapTimeInMinutes_SFM
30
Time
minute
Initial setup time for Structural Foam Molding where parts are assumed to be scrap. Determine the setup cost per part.
sleevePinAspectRatioLimit
8
 
 
Threshold at which the ratio of wall height to diameter of a curved wall will necessitate a sleeve pin. (Tooling cost driver)
sleevePinLimitDia
4
Length
millimeter
Threshold at which the diameter of a curved wall will necessitate a sleeve pin. (Tooling cost driver)
timePerTryoutBase
12
Time
hour
Basic time per tryout for clamp force under 500 tons. (Tooling cost driver)
clampForceSafetyFactor
1.1
 
 
Multiplier of clamp pressure required to ensure that the machine is capable of applying the necessary mold pressure.
densityPolystyreneForShotSize
1020
Density
kilogram / millimeter^3
Industry standard density of polystyrene used to define shot size in grams.
edgeMoldBorderX1500T
178
Length
millimeter
Edge mold border in X direction for press force under 1500 tons.
edgeMoldBorderX150T
140
Length
millimeter
Edge mold border in X direction for press force under 150 tons.
edgeMoldBorderX300T
165
Length
millimeter
Edge mold border in X direction for press force under 300 tons.
edgeMoldBorderX500T
190
Length
millimeter
Edge mold border in X direction for press force under 500 tons.
edgeMoldBorderXGreater1500T
140
Length
millimeter
Edge mold border in X direction for press force over 1500 tons.
edgeMoldBorderY1000T
165
Length
millimeter
Edge mold border in Y direction for press force under 1000 tons.
edgeMoldBorderY200T
152
Length
millimeter
Edge mold border in Y direction for press force under 200 tons.
edgeMoldBorderY30T
90
Length
millimeter
Edge mold border in Y direction for press force under 30 tons.
edgeMoldBorderYGreater1000T
140
Length
millimeter
Edge mold border in Y direction for press force over 1000 tons.
largeInsertArea
36
Area
inch ^ 2
Standard 6" x 6" area of a large insert. Used to calculate the insert volume of a large rib.
largeLifterVolume
1500
Volume
inch ^ 3
Standard volume of a large lifter. Used to calculate the total volume of a large lifter bundle.
largeSlideVolume
2000
Volume
inch ^ 3
Standard volume of a large slide. Used to calculate the total volume of a large slide bundle.
mediumInsertArea
9
Area
inch ^ 2
Standard 3" x 3" area of a medium insert. Used to calculate the insert volume of a medium rib.
mediumLifterBundleWidthThreshold
127
Length
millimeter
Width threshold between a medium and large lifter bundle (based on 5 inches).
mediumLifterVolume
500
Volume
inch ^ 3
Standard volume of a medium lifter. Used to calculate the total volume of a medium lifter bundle.
mediumSlideBundleWidthThreshold
304.8
Length
millimeter
Width threshold between a medium and large slide bundle (based on 12 inches).
mediumSlideVolume
1100
Volume
inch ^ 3
Standard volume of a medium slide. Used to calculate the total volume of a medium slide bundle.
shotSizeSafetyFactor
1.02
 
 
Mulitplier of required shot size to account for material left in chamber. Used to calculate the required shot size.
smallInsertArea
1
Area
inch ^ 2
Standard 1" x 1" area of a small insert. Used to calculate the insert volume of a small rib.
smallLifterBundleWidthThreshold
76.2
Length
millimeter
Width threshold between a small and medium lifter bundle (based on 3 inches).
smallLifterVolume
75
Volume
inch ^ 3
Standard volume of a small lifter. Used to calculate the total volume of a small lifter bundle.
smallSlideBundleWidthThreshold
76.2
Length
millimeter
Width threshold between a small and medium slide bundle (based on 3 inches).
smallSlideVolume
75
Volume
inch ^ 3
Standard volume of a small slide. Used to calculate the total volume of a small slide bundle.