Molding-system platen

A molding system, comprising:

• a molding-system platen, including:
• a mold-support face being configured to support a mold, the mold-support face including:
• a frustum-shaped structure having a pedestal, the pedestal being centrally positioned relative to the mold-support face, and the pedestal being offset rearward of the mold-support face, and the pedestal defining a force-receiving face being offset rearward from the mold-support face, and the force-receiving face being smaller than the mold-support face;
• a border surrounding the mold-support face, and a width of the border extending from an outer edge of the mold-support face toward the outer edge of the force-receiving face;
• an upstanding wall extending posterior of the mold-support face;
• and
• a peripheral wall extending around a periphery of the mold-support face;
• and
• a canopy linking to, and stiffening, the mold-support face and the border, the canopy being suspended over and covering, at least in part, a posterior of the mold-support face, and the canopy being positioned between the mold-support face and the force-receiving face, the canopy being attached to the upstanding wall, and the upstanding wall linking the canopy to the mold-support face, the canopy attaching with the peripheral wall, the canopy attaching with the upstanding wall.

A method of stiffening a molding-system platen, the method comprising:

• linking to, and stiffening, a mold-support face with a canopy,
• the mold-support face being configured to support a mold, the mold-support face including:
• a frustum-shaped structure having a pedestal, the pedestal being centrally positioned relative to the mold-support face, and the pedestal being offset rearward of the mold-support face, and the pedestal defining a force-receiving face being offset rearward from the mold-support face, and the force-receiving face being smaller than the mold-support face;
• a border surrounding the mold-support face, and a width of the border extending from an outer edge of the mold-support face toward the outer edge of the force-receiving face;
• an upstanding wall extending posterior of the mold-support face;
• and
• a peripheral wall extending around a periphery of the mold-support face;
• and
• the canopy linking to, and stiffening, the mold-support face and the border, the canopy being suspended over and covering, at least in part, a posterior of the mold-support face, and the canopy being positioned between the mold-support face and the force-receiving face, the canopy being attached to the upstanding wall, and the upstanding wall linking the canopy to the mold-support face, the canopy attaching with the peripheral wall, the canopy attaching with the upstanding wall.