>>11992388They just like pretending they're tough. I know because I used to be one of them. Just do them a few favors and make the model import/export to their CAM software less painful (and without twenty fucking thousand tiny polygonal surfaces for every curved surface) and they'll run circles for you.
>>11992395One real obstacle to learning about why do things a certain way with plastic injection molds is that nobody fucking comments on anything because everyone is putting in the least amount of effort, either because they'd been doing this for 20 years or they're being rushed.
What I recommend is going down to the moldmakers section after they make a test batch, look for flashes, take a look at where the defects are, etc. Not sure if they'll let you do it on company time but those guys start work early so you can just show up with them and still get to the office upstairs by 9.
You'll notice pretty fast that nobody on the floor has any fucking idea what's actually going to happen with the stuff they're making. The toolmakers bitch about CNC/china making the fittings too loose/too tight/off coordinate entirely, the CNC bitch about the machines being trash/your models being trash/their tools not being good enough, the handworkers bitch about being on the clock to finish 3 months worth of surfacing in two weeks, the boss is in a godawful mood because the customers refuse to pick up the mold (and actually pay they goddamn money), and after you get good enough you'll bitch nonstop too.
