VISI-Flow™ for Plastic Flow Analysis for Injection Molds
VISI-Flow analyses the flow behavior of the molten plastic as it enters a mold cavity using FEA technologies to assure the quality of the final part and the productivity of the injection molding process. It covers the complete process for plastic injection molders, from fill (flow) analysis, to tolerance, warpage, cooling and cycle time analysis.
VISI-Flow simulates the behavior of all types of plastics in their filled and unfilled states. The database guides the identification of the molding parameters to obtain the required part quality. Specific options allow for the creation of any new polymers or blends of polymers. There are no limits to the shape, complexity and size of the molded part. In addition to the simulation of conventional injection molding, VISI-Flow can analyze all types of runner-less systems such as hot and insulated nozzles. Specific options are provided for the sequential (cascade) technology and for the family mold where different parts positioned in the same tool are balanced with the programmed opening and closing of valve gates.
VISI-Flow allows you to identify all possible aesthetic issues (welding lines, air traps etc.) in the filling phase and helps the user to easily find the best gate location)
Possible warpages, linear and volumetric shrinkages, sinks and voids are detected and accurately measured by VISI-Flow.
VISI-Flow analyses the thermal conditions of the whole mold (runners and cooling circuits included) and allows the user to optimize the channels design on the basis of the best temperatures, flow rate and pressure conditions. possible aesthetic issues (welding lines, air traps etc.) in the filling phase and helps the user to easily find the best gate location
Efficient Analysis Strategies
VISI-Flow provides 3 major modules, Filling, Shape and Thermal for analyzing the complete injection molding process.
VISI-Flow Filling - Identifies and solves many molding defects through the simulation of the filling phase, allowing the user to quickly check the manufacturability of the plastic part early in the design process when the cost of change is least. The first phase finds the optimum molding conditions and the ideal gate position to balance the filling of single or multi-cavities and to avoid any undesirable melt or solid phase properties, which can create internal stress and negatively influence part properties. Also covered is the identification of cosmetic issues such as weld lines, air traps and sink marks along with molding cycle times, required clamp tonnage and shot size, fiber orientation, etc., all of which help the design and manufacturing team to minimize cycle times and reduce manufacturing waste.
VISI-Flow Shape - Users can set up and evaluate packing profiles to determine the optimal packing pressure and duration to reduce the risk of sinks and to control the part density and the volumetric shrinkage of the molding material. Adequate gate sizes can be calculated to ensure volumetric shrinkage is compensated by the supply of additional melt material before the freezing of the gate area. The Shape phase concludes the virtual molding of the component with the calculation of the equilibrium of all internal tensions at the end of the cycle.
VISI-Flow Thermal - Inclusion of the molds cooling systems are integrated with the previous phases. The sophisticated calculations of thermal transfers in transitory conditions with solid elements, allow the user to identify and optimize the fluid temperatures, flow rate and the pressure required in any specific cooling circuit. A display of the tomography of the plates showing the temperature distribution can be used for further optimization of cooling time and/or to reduce thermal induced warpage. Advantages of localized or generalized use of high conductivity materials for the tool cavity can be easily identified.
