INTERCHANGEABLE ICEBOX MOLDING TECHNOLOGY

MOmOLA Technical Devel~pmente Volumti 21 February 1994

INTERCHANGEABLE ICEBOX MOLDING TECj+NOLOGY

by Richard Scott Torkington

  The ICEBOX packaging element (Figure 1) phys- ically compartmentalizes packaged electronic cir- cuitry, providing signal isolation between molded elements arranged in a fashion resembling an ice cube tray.

  Figure 2A illustrates five different options for wall locations within a given unit cell, realizable via a family of interchangeable mold elements. Three distinct elements provide the five designs through rotation of the l- and 2-wall mold elements about the cell center (see Figure 2B). Mold element rota- tion is realized via four-sided peg 2 (Figure 2C) mounted into the mold face (not illustrated). Peg 2

also provides access for ejector pin 4.

  Mold elements 7 are ~arranged within mold cav- ity 5 to provide end-item form 6 (compare Figures 2B, 2C). Advantages of this approach include pro- duction of packages "as-cast" or "as-molded" with little need for post-forming machining reduced cycle time, increased quality, freduced process steps and reduced unit costs follovving mold amortization. For small production quantities, fixed mold costs are lower while quantities above about 500 pieces real- ize significantly reduced unit costs. Further cost ben- efits accrue from multiple mold re-use for distinct, different projects.

FIGURE 1 - Conceptualization of Unmodified lCEBOXPackag@g Element

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0 Motorola. 1°C. 1994