Consortium launches Hipermoulding software

Three years of research, software development and feedback from SMEs have passed and with a good result: The HIPERMOULDING software is developed and ready for use. At the final European event all the consortium members have received the final version of the HIPERMOULDING module. The national SMEs that contributed to the research, will receive a copy at the local finalisation of the project.

Knowledge based

The data from the research have been entered in a knowledge system that forms the basis of the HIPERMOULDING module. This software module points out whether it is useful to make inserts for a specific product with a rapid manufacturing technique. Moreover, the “advisory system conformal cooling” indicates which rapid manufacturing technique should be used, where the cooling channel should be, its shape, etc.

Training

In addition to this knowledge system, training modules are now drawn up. The trainings about the HIPERMOULDING technology will be given in December 2007 and January 2008 in the participating countries: Belgium, the Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Spain and the United Kingdom.

For more information on these trainings, you can contact the IAG of your country.

Progress with HIPERMOULDING

The development of a software module is step one, but what does it mean in real life? To analyse the effect of the HIPERMOULDING module the use of this “advisory system” has been verified in four validation cases. This means that four real life products, which already were produced in the conventional way, also have been realised with the HIPERMOULDING approach. Companies from Belgium, Portugal, Poland and Spain provided all the details needed for these analyses.

The effect appeared to be impressive. All the validation cases show an enormous reduction in cycle time, varying from 12 – 32 percent! Besides the costs per product have been evaluated to verify if the use of the HIPERMOULDS were also financially a good choice for the companies. The SMEs, being mould makers or injection moulders, were very content about this realistic approach of the HIPERMOULDING module. It provides them practical advices for the use of this new technology.

It won’t be surprising that the consortium members were very pleased with the project results.