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MoldFlow 2008
Moldlow Plastics Advisers® (MPA)
Moldlow Plastics Advisers (MPA®) 8.0 delivers new technologies and key enhancements that help you analyze a broader range of parts with 3D technology, work more eficiently with a redesigned user interface, take advantage of new results visualization options, and leverage expanded communication capabilities. Install MPA 8.0 today to start taking advantage of these new features!
Advanced3D analysis technology
• Use the Advanced 3D analysis add-on module to accurately analyze parts that have thick, solid regions or excessive variations in part thickness.
• Models that in previous MPA releases were evaluated as ‘not suitable' can now be reliably analyzed through the Advanced 3D technology.
• Evaluate part warpage for thick, solid models by using the Advanced 3D analysis with the Performance Adviser add-on module.
Redesigned user interface
• Utilize the new project management architecture to more effectively organize studies performed within a project. A study is an iteration based on one set of inputs (part geometry, material, process conditions, and analysis sequence) and analysis results.
• Panel-based user interface streamlines worklow, provides uninterrupted access to the model, and improves overall user productivity. Multiple panels, each with a speciic focus, are intelligently positioned and combine to introduce a new user paradigm.
• New Workspace feature can be used to save a customized user interface layout to support a speciic worklow. For example, create one workspace to support tasks prior to running an analysis and a second workspace for reviewing and comparing results.
• Choose from Advanced or Classic workspace conigurations that are provided with the software.
• Easily switch from one workspace coniguration to another at any time. Analysis solution improvements
• Improvements in Plastic Filling solution beneit thin-walled parts and affect predicted pressure, temperature and cycle time.
• For complex and challenging part geometries, the Sink Mark solution delivers improved prediction of the location and magnitude of sink marks.
Improved results visualization options
• Tabbed layout and contemporary style of the Tabbed layout and contemporary style of the to the results summary while simultaneously allowing you to interact with the model.
• Use Lock/Unlock feature to compare analysis results from two or more models by synchronizing result selection and view orientation.
• Set default report format, image size and animation settings as user preferences.
• Create and edit report images, animations and text blocks independently of the Report Generation Wizard.
• Report images and animations are included automatically with the relevant result in the Results list in the Study Tasks pane of the Project panel.
• Access result images and animations from the Results list to modify result attributes, model orientation or zoom properties, etc. Update the report to automatically include revised images and animations.
• Utilize the Add Text Block feature to include descriptive text that is not directly associated with a result plot in a report.
• Leverage capability to automatically include Plot Notes associated with speciic analysis results in reports.
• Project panel offers project management tasks, setup and launch of analysis, access to results and model manipulation tools.
• Results Advice panel gives feedback on part manufacturability and quality, and model-speciic design advice.
• Summary panel displays critical analysis information and provides access to the Cost Adviser for part cost estimation.
• Notes panel allows you to document comments and observations about the study or a speciic analysis result using the Study Notes or Plot Notes, respectively.
• Dynamic Help panel offers context-sensitive information about the result displayed to enhance interpretation.
• Option to hide all panels maximizes the graphics display area, which can be beneicial while evaluating multiple results of the same model or comparing results from several models.
• New model Import Wizard:
• Provides preview of STL models before import.
• Automatically checks for and repairs model defects.
• Checks model suitability to determine which of standard, Dual Domain or new, Advanced 3D analysis technologies is appropriate to use for best results. This eliminates need for you to make this determination either through physical examination of the model or other means.
• Access Plot Properties to customize animation settings, result scale, and part display, and select among several result display methods.
• Use the Best it method as an alternative to setting up an Anchor plane for assessing part warpage. This option is ideal for complex geometries where the anchor plane can be dificult to set up.
• Precise positioning of reference points of an anchor plane is now possible, which can be useful when comparing the predicted warpage to reality.
• Utilize the Overlay function to simultaneously display a combination of two results for advanced interpretation.
• Enhanced Cutting planes options provide greater lexibility to create and position them, and cutting planes now interact better with the model.
Other enhancements
• Redesigned Cost Adviser facilitates detailed part cost analysis. Association with the model allows evaluation of how changes to part design, mold design, material, and processing conditions affect part cost.
• New Job Manager allows you to monitor and control multiple analysis jobs:
• Access interim results while an analysis is in progress to enhance interpretation.
• View progress of and abort analyses running on the local machine.
• Change priority of an analysis to affect the amount of computer resources allocated for it.
• Close the MPA application after launching the analysis.
• Use image screen capture to capture all views in the graphics display area in a single static image.
• Compare properties of multiple materials to aid in material selection.
Material database enhancements
Moldlow Plastics Labs' continued focus on quality improvement has resulted in the following changes implemented since the MPA 7.3 release:
• 747 thermoplastic materials added.
• 184 obsolete materials deleted.
• 1552 materials amended to include new or updated properties.
• 474 materials now have melt low rate (MFR) or melt low index (MFI) data.
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Moldflow Plastics Insight® (MPI)
Moldflow Plastics Insight (MPI®) is a comprehensive suite is a comprehensive suite of software tools for simulating, analyzing, optimizing, and validating plastics part and mold designs.
Powerful and easy to use, MPI offers a state-of-the-art solution that can be used to simulate nine unique molding processes, and is currently used by top manufacturers in the automotive, medical, consumer, electronics and packaging industries.
The Benefits of Predictive Analysis
To avoid high costs and time delays when problems are discovered during manufacturing, we must uncover the effect of material, part geometry, mold design and processing conditions on the manufacturability of a part. Using predictive analysis tools to simulate the injection molding process, MPI users can evaluate and optimize interactions among these variables before production begins, minimizing time and expense.
With MPI, you can simulate the filling, packing and cooling phases of thermoplastics molding processes using materials with or without fillers and fiber reinforcements, as well as predict post-molding phenomena such as part warpage. You can also simulate material flow and cure of reactive molding processes.
MPI also offers a material database (the world's largest) of more than 7,800 thermoplastic and thermoset materials, all characterized for use in plastics CAE analysis, in addition to detailed information on coolants, mold materials, and analysis capabilities of leading brands and models of molding machines.
MPI is widely acclaimed for its speed and accuracy and addresses the broadest range of design geometry types and manufacturing issues associated with plastics molding processes.
Buy Only the Modules You Need
Nineteen separate modules allows you to maximize your investment, so you can focus on plastic flow, molding process, structural integrity, or reactive molding simulations, according to your needs. Moldflow offers superior customer service, training and technical support should you need it.
The Best Gets Even Better
Version 6.0 delivers new technologies and key enhancements that help users work more efficiently, significantly reduce solution time, interact better with CAD, structural analysis and other Moldflow applications, and better understand and communicate analysis results.
Unmatched Geometry Support
Only Moldflow Plastics Insight supports all three analysis model solution methods. MPI allows you to directly analyze traditional midplane finite-element mesh models, solid models of thin-wall parts using MPI/Fusion solvers, and solid models of thick parts using MPI/3D solvers.
Traditional Midplane Solutions
A midplane mesh represents a three-dimensional part with a two-dimensional, planar surface plus a thickness assigned to this surface. Midplane meshes work best for traditional thin-walled injection molding applications. To increase your productivity when creating and analyzing such models, the MPI/Midplane Generator can automatically generate a midplane mesh and assign proper element thickness to ensure accurate analysis results.
MPI/Fusion Solutions
Based on Moldflow's patented Dual Domain™ technology, Fusion adds a boundary or skin mesh on the outside surfaces of a 3D CAD translation model (STL, IGES, etc.). This allows you to analyze solid models of thin-walled parts directly. With no need for further model preparation, you can analyze more design iterations or perform more in-depth analyses.
MPI/3D Solutions
Using a proven technique based on a solid, tetrahedral finite-element volume mesh, MPI/3D solutions allow you to perform true, three-dimensional simulations on geometries that do not qualify as traditional, thin-wall designs. MPI/3D works well with electrical connectors and thick structural components, even those with extreme thickness variability.
Reduced Total Solution Time
Total solution time includes both model preparation and analysis run time. These factors are highly dependent on the complexity of part and mold design as well as user-selected analysis options. Moldflow products offer you a wide range of software solutions so you can obtain the most accurate results possible in the shortest period of time for each unique application.
Complex Simulations Made Easy
Predict and eliminate potential manufacturing problems and optimize part design, mold design and the molding process itself. MPI addresses virtually all plastics molding processes and state-of-the-art process applications. MPI/Synergy is the pre/post-processor that supports all MPI analysis modules, providing powerful workflow and productivity tools for modeling, meshing, mesh editing, model validation, job setup and control, results visualization and report generation in a single, easy-to-use environment.
Plastic Flow Simulation
MPI/Flow simulates the filling and packing phases of the thermoplastics injection molding process to predict the flow behavior of plastic melts so you can ensure manufacturability. Using MPI/Flow, you can optimize gate locations, balance runner systems, evaluate processing conditions to provide a robust molding window, and determine and correct potential part defects; Simulate insert overmolding and two-shot sequential overmolding processes; Analyze the effects of non-uniform mold temperatures, optimize valve-gate timing, compare flow through hot versus cold runner systems, and analyze Dynamic Feed applications. With optional modules MPI/Flow can simulate more complex thermoplastics molding processes.
MPI/Gas simulates the gas-assisted injection molding process, where gas, usually inert nitrogen, is injected into the polymer melt. The gas drives the polymer through the mold cavity to complete mold filling and create a network of hollow channels throughout the component. MPI/Gas results help determine where to position polymer and gas entrances, how much plastic to inject prior to gas injection, and optimal size and placement of gas channels.
MPI/Co-Injection simulates the sequential co-injection process, where a skin material is injected first, followed by the injection of a different core material. You can view the advancement of the materials in the cavity and see the dynamic relationship between skin and core materials as filling progresses. Use results to optimize the combination of two materials while maximizing the overall performance/cost ratio for the product.
MPI/Injection Compression simulates processes where polymer injection and mold compression occur simultaneously or sequentially and allows you to program the compression phase to begin anytime before during, or after polymer injection. Use results to comprehensively evaluate candidate materials, part design, mold design, and process conditions.
MPI/MuCell simulates the microcellular (MuCell ) injection molding process, in which a supercritical fluid such as carbon dioxide or nitrogen is mixed with molten polymer and injected into the mold to produce microcellular foam. With MPI/MuCell, you can evaluate the feasibility and benefits of using this process versus traditional injection molding. Additionally, you can optimize the part design and the process settings by reviewing the various analysis results.
Molding Process Optimization Simulations
MPI/Design-of-Experiments lets you perform a sequence of automatic analyses, varying parameters you specify, such as mold and melt temperatures, injection time, packing pressure and time, and part thickness. The program analyzes the results to help you optimize processing parameters and ultimately, the molded part. Results include single-point quality indicators such as volumetric shrinkage, injection pressure, clamp force and flow-front temperature, as well as displays of fill time, pressure, and temperature distributions.
MPI/Optim allows you to analyze for specific injection molding machines, looking at machine response time, maximum injection velocity, and velocity and pressure programmability of the machine controller. Use the results to achieve uniform flow front velocity and temperature profiles through the injection molding machine nozzle, the mold feed system, and the part cavities. Mold Cooling Simulations MPI/Cool provides tools for modeling mold cooling circuits, inserts, and bases around a part and analyzing the efficiency of the mold's cooling system.
MPI/Cool simulations allow users to optimize mold and cooling circuit design to achieve uniform part cooling, minimize cycle times, eliminate part warpage due to cooling factors, and decrease overall manufacturing costs.
Structural Integrity Simulations
MPI/Warp helps predict shrinkage and warpage of plastic parts from process-induced stresses, as well as spatial deviation of an injection mold core due to non-uniform pressure distribution. Uncover causes of warpage, see where it will occur, and allow you to optimize your design, material choice and processing parameters to control part deformation before the mold is built.
MPI/Fiber predict the fiber orientation due to flow in fiber-filled plastics and the resultant mechanical strength of the plastic/fiber composite. It is important to understand and control the orientation of fibers within fiber-filled plastics to reduce shrinkage variations across the molded part to minimize or eliminate part warpage.
MPI/Shrink predicts polymer shrinkage based on the effects of processing and grade-specific material data and offers a true prediction of linear shrinkage independent of warpage analysis. Because plastic parts shrink as they cool, it is essential to accurately account for this shrinkage in the design of the mold so that critical product tolerances can be met.
MPI/Stress predicts the post-molding performance of plastic parts when subject to various forms of external loading. The analysis considers the effects of plastic flow during injection molding and the resultant mechanical properties on the component's structural integrity.
Reactive Molding Simulations
MPI/Reactive Molding simulates the flow and curing of thermoset resins in a variety of reactive molding processes, including thermoset and rubber injection molding and RTM/SRIM applications. Use results to evaluate manufacturability, minimize cycle times, and optimize processing conditions.
Optional modules extend MPI/Reactive Molding capabilities to simulate electronic encapsulation processes.
MPI/Microchip Encapsulation.
simulates the encapsulation of semi-conductor chips with reactive resins, including paddle shift and wire sweep predictions. Analysis results help you design the encapsulation package, tool, leadframe and wires, as well as optimize processing conditions, including mold temperature, filling time, ram speed profile, and curing time.
MPI/Underfill Encapsulation simulates the pressurized underfill encapsulation process (also called flip-chip encapsulation) to predict the flow of the encapsulant material in the cavity, between the chip and the substrate.
To install and run Moldflow Plastics Insight software, your computer should have at minimum a 500-MHz processor with at least 2 GB of free disk space and 256 MB of RAM. Actual requirements to achieve optimal performance may increase significantly depending on the size of models you are analyzing, the type of analysis and the number of simultaneous analyses being run.
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CAD Connectivity Tools
CAD Connectivity Tools | Moldflow Magics STL ExpertTM Moldflow Magics STL Expert™ is a powerful tool for viewing, measuring, correcting and optimizing STL and solid surface models imported from popular 3D CAD/CAM systems in preparatio for analysis using Moldflow Plastics Advisers® (MPA®) or Moldflow Plastics Insight® (MPI®). Moldflow Magics STL Expert can be used to very quickly validate STL models and resolve any identified problems. Moldflow Magics STL Expert also interfaces with Moldflow Design Link™ (MDL™) to import solid surface models and convert them to STL format, which can then be optimized for use with MPA and MPI.
Moldflow Design Link™ (MDL™) provides faster and easier access to CAD data by allowing users to import leading solid geometry formats directly into Moldflow Plastics Advisers® (MPA®),Moldflow Plastics Insight® (MPI®), and Moldflow Magics STL Expert™ software.
This gives users the flexibility to accept CAD data from almost any source, and it also provides the added benefit of using native CAD data from all Parasolid-based CAD systems, Pro/ENGINEER®, CATIA V5® and SolidWorks®.
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