Exciting new advancements in injection moulding, now mean that high-precision moulding for production of scientific and medical devices is now a reality. This has partially occurred due to new precision injection moulding machines now replacing older and less precise models, but also due to advances in software and operator training, which allows greater tolerances and more computer control over the moulding process.
The manufacturing of specific parts for scientific uses has never been more in demand, from both industry and government research facilities who want to procure a high quality product at the best possible price. One of the main problems faced was the cost of the initial design and the complex design software required to produce such parts.
Saviour from such problems has come from the use of interactive computer technology helping in the initial CAD phase that allows non-experts to design comlex designs with ease. Researchers from the Institute of Science and Technology Austria, the University of Tokyo and CONICET have achieved just that! Their interactive design tool, named Core Cavity, allows novices to produce complicated CAD files in order to produce hollow and freeform objects. The system scans and analyses a 3D model of an object which is then “deconstructed” by the software into its constituent parts – in effect reverse engineering the design. It can then suggest improvements or modifications to the design before producing a complete CAD file ready for moulding.