Tool Cavities
Tool cavities are individually identified sections within a tool that enable multiple parts to be produced during a single machine cycle. Each cavity can be managed independently and optionally be associated with a sub-tool. A tool pack can have multiple cavities. For example, a plastics injection molding tool can have eight cavities. In multi-cavity tools, each cavity typically produces a part during the same machine cycle. This results in the simultaneous production of multiple parts.
Each cavity is identified by a cavity number and a cavity name. Cavities can be used in one of these ways:
- Cavities with sub-tools: Cavities can be used to represent a tool pack that consists of multiple tools assembled and managed as a single unit. In this configuration, sub-tools are assembled into the tool pack at specific cavity positions. A sub-tool can be disassembled from the tool pack and replaced with a different sub-tool based on the requirement.
- Cavities without sub-tools: Cavities can also be used to represent multiple cavities without modeling individual sub-tools. In this configuration, each cavity produces one or more parts. This configuration can be used when tracking at the sub-tool level is not required.
Each cavity can be tracked using Statistical Process Control (SPC) to monitor the capability of individual cavities.
The advantages of managing each sub-tool as a tool in the application includes:
- Each tool is managed as an asset. This enables asset state management, state workflows, inspections, and calibration checks.
- Installation history records can be recorded for each sub-tool installation, including the previous tool pack and cavity position assignments.
These options can be used to define a tool:
- : A basic tool is a standalone tool with no cavities, sub-tools, or positions. For example, a cutting blade used on a machine can be classified as a basic tool, where the tool is fully usable or not usable.
- : A tool with cavities contains multiple cavities that can be open or closed independently. Production capacity depends on the number of active cavities. When all cavities are open, the full production capacity is available. When one or more cavities are closed, production continues with reduced capacity. For example, an eight‑cavity injection mould can continue operating when a defective cavity is closed, although fewer parts are produced during each machine cyclecycle.
- : A parent tool with cavities that contain sub-tools. Each cavity can be opened or closed independently and a sub-tool can be assigned to each cavity position. Sub-Tools can be removed and replaced based on the requirement. For example, a multi-cavity die can contains a replaceable insert within each cavity. Individual inserts can be replaced without replacing the entire die.
- : A parent tool with fixed positions for sub-tools. In this configuration, cavity numbers represent predefined positions rather than actual cavities. Position status cannot be opened or closed. Each position can contain a sub-tool, and sub-tools can be replaced independently as part of maintenance activities. For example, a bodymaker tool pack can contain fixed position for components, such as punches, rings and ironing dies, where individual tools are replaced as part of maintenance.