Patent ID: 7123986

Claim:
A method of manufacturing a mold for two or more parts, the method comprising: receiving customer part data comprising a CAD file for a first part to be molded, the CAD file defining a first part surface profile; receiving customer part data comprising a CAD file for a second part to be molded, the CAD file defining a second part surface profile; automatically determining that the first part and the second part are eligible for molding in a family mold, the automatic determining requiring both the first part and the second part to be molded of the same material and requiring that a cavity for the first part and a cavity for the second part fit within a single mold block size; machining, within a single mold block, the cavity for the first part based upon the CAD file defining the first part surface profile and the cavity for the second part based upon the CAD file defining the second part surface profile; and running the single mold block in an injection mold press to manufacture the first part and the second part.