Moldflow Releases Moldflow Plastics Insight 5.1

By DE Editors

Moldflow Corporation(Wayland, MA) is now shipping Moldflow Plastics Insight (MPI) 5.1. MPIis one of the industry’s most widely used plastics design analysisprograms. The new version lets users interface with ANSYS structuralanalysis software from ANSYS, Inc.(Canonsburg, PA) to ensure the accuracy of the plastics material dataused in a structural analysis. Additional new features allow users togenerate and validate MPI/3D meshes faster, leverage new diagnostictools to evaluate cooling circuit and runner design components,simulate new processes, obtain improved solver predictions, and accessnumerous post-processing enhancements.

With the new ANSYS interface, users can export thermo-mechanicalproperties, fiber orientation, and either process-induced residualstress or volumetric shrinkage data from MPI 5.1 to ANSYS software formore in-depth structural analysis. Fundamentally, the Moldflow dataensure that the structural analysis model has material properties thatwould exist in the part as a result of the injection molding process.

“We developed the ANSYS interface in direct response to numerouscustomer requests,” stated Ken Welch, the executive vice president andgeneral manager of the Moldflow Design Analysis Solutions businessunit. “The use of plastics in high performance applications isincreasing, and material properties, particularly for fiber-filledmaterials, are heavily influenced by the molding process and may varythroughout the molded part.”

The interface from Moldflow makes application-specific data availableas input to ANSYS, including effects of grade-specific materialproperties, flow-induced material anisotropy and residual stresses dueto processing. This unparalleled level of detail in structural analysisinputs is critical to accurately account for the effects of processingon the performance of injection molded plastic parts when subject toservice loading.

Additionally, since plastic parts typically undergo post-moldingdeformation due to molded-in stress, the shape of the part asmanufactured may differ from the original CAD model geometry, which canalso be taken into account. ANSYS users analyzing plastic injectionmolded parts will benefit due to the improved accuracy made possible byincorporating grade-specific plastics material data and the effects ofinjection molding processing in structural analysis.

Other key features include 3D meshes that can be generated up to 20 to50 percent faster while using less memory; a new batch meshing optionand improved quality of meshes on complex curved surfaces; new solvercapabilities  with the ability to simulate the thermosetinjection-compression molding process and investigate the effects ofoverflow wells in the gas-assist process; and post-processingenhancements for customizing weld-line plots with user-specifiedmelt-front angle, enhanced warpage visualization tools to interrogatewarp results, and reduced memory requirements when viewing analysisresults for large 3D models.

For more information, visit moldflow.com.