Molded plastic skin forming tool manufacturing method involves recording skin data, first model generation, identification of problem areas for plastic application, second model generation and tool manufacture

摘要

Data relating to the shape of the molded skin is recorded(S1). A preliminary model of the molding tool is produced(S2) from the data and forms a negative image of the molded skin. Areas of the model which prevent or reduce flow of plastic particles from an applicator(10) onto the final tool surface are identified(S3). A second model of the molding tool is generated(S5) which includes partial or complete geometric inversion of identified problem areas in the preliminary model. A molding tool is then manufactured(S6) from data of the second model. Independent claims are included for the following: (1) a molding tool produced by the claimed method; (2) use of the tool for molding a shaped plastic skin in which an application pistol directs(S7) a particle stream onto the internal surface of the tool where the particles form a skin and then the skin is removed from the tool and inverted to produce the final molded skin.