How Nextooling Cuts Runner Design to 30 Minutes and Drilling to Hours with Cimatron
Nextooling Equipment builds plastic extrusion molds and semiconductor packaging equipment for customers in more than 40 countries. With Cimatron, the company has cut runner design from hours to 30 minutes, reduced hole programming from days to hours, and reliably machines micro electrodes with 0.2 mm tools.
At a glance
| Customer | Anhui Nextooling Equipment Technology Co., Ltd. |
|---|---|
| Industry | Plastic extrusion molds, semiconductor packaging equipment |
| Location | Anhui, China |
| Solution | Cimatron integrated design & manufacturing, automatic drilling, Micro Milling |
Key figures
30 minutes
3D runner model from 2D drawings (other software: several hours)
Days → hours
Automatic drilling programming
±0.002 mm
Electrode accuracy for IC packaging molds
Two businesses, two precision worlds
Nextooling's customers include the world's ten largest semiconductor packaging and test companies. The company grows on two pillars – plastic extrusion and semiconductor packaging – and each comes with its own demands:
- Plastic extrusion: Designing, simulating and commissioning complex co-extrusion molds takes a long time and requires deep expertise.
- Semiconductor packaging: Tolerances for IC packaging molds have moved from millimeters to microns. Yield decides whether a job is profitable
Nextooling's answer was to build both businesses on one digital CAD/CAM platform.
We chose Cimatron because it supports both of our core businesses and enables efficient, stable production of high-end molds.
Runner design in 30 minutes instead of hours
The challenge
The runner is the heart of a plastic-steel co-extrusion mold. Runners with variable cross-sections, multiple branches and free-form shapes take a long time to model in conventional CAD software, and errors are common. That delays entire projects.
The solution
- Wireframe and surface modeling: Cimatron's modeling tools let designers build complex runners directly from 2D drawings.
- Surface continuity analysis (G1/G2): Designers verify that runner interiors are smooth and free of dead zones, which prevents material from collecting and degrading.
- Three-stage toolpath strategy: Roughing, rest roughing and finishing strategies handle long, narrow and tapered runners and shorten the path from design to machining.
The result
Faster response to inquiries, higher design accuracy and shorter lead times for Nextooling's customers – with consistent product quality.
Modeling complex runners from 2D drawings takes only 30 minutes in Cimatron. With other software, it usually takes several hours.
Hole machining in hours instead of days
The challenge
Die heads and mold plates for extrusion molds are packed with deep holes, intersecting cooling channels and threaded holes. Programming them manually was slow, tedious and prone to costly mistakes.
The solution
- Automatic hole recognition and drilling: Cimatron identifies all hole features in one step and assigns the appropriate drilling process to each.
- Automatically generated process sheets: Every job follows the same documented workflow, which keeps machining consistent and reduces human error.
The result
Programming capacity has grown significantly. Nextooling can deliver faster and take on more orders during peak seasons, while standardized processes keep quality stable.
This is a huge leap in efficiency. Tasks that used to take several days are now done in a few hours.
Micro milling to ±0.002 mm with 0.2 mm tools
The challenge
Machining tiny electrodes for IC packaging molds is one of the toughest jobs in the industry: 0.2 mm cutting tools, tolerances of ±0.002 mm, and demanding materials such as soft copper and brittle graphite. Tool breakage was frequent, leading to low yield and high scrap costs.
The solution
- Cimatron Micro Milling: Smooth toolpaths with an even tool load, calculated with 0.1 µm precision and with rest material detection down to 0.01 mm.
- High-precision NC output: G-code with five decimal places meets the strictest precision machining requirements.
The result
Fewer broken tools, less scrap and higher yield. Lower manufacturing costs and proven micron-level capability strengthen Nextooling's position with leading global customers in the IC packaging market.
Cimatron effectively reduces tool breakage, cuts scrap losses significantly and raises our overall yield.”
What's next
Nextooling plans to expand its work with Cimatron in three areas:
- Process libraries: Company-specific machining templates for one-click programming, so every engineer can apply the team's best practices.
- MES integration: Connecting Cimatron with MES and other systems to digitize the full process chain on the shop floor.
- Micro milling development: Working with the Cimatron team to further improve micro milling for stable, efficient series production of ultra-precise electrodes.
Conclusion
From extrusion molds to IC packaging, Cimatron supports Nextooling across both of its core businesses: faster design, automated programming and reliable micron-level machining. The result is shorter lead times, higher yield and the trust of leading customers worldwide.
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