Setup right panel options

On the setup page, use the setup right panel cards to assign your model components to their category. This allows the SimForm solver to correctly identify the mold components in your CAD model and consider their material properties in the thermal analysis.

Option Description
Mold Group Appears for the channel assessment job type.

Lets you add additional mold groups, as needed.
Use Basic Mold Appears for the channel assessment job type.

Enables the basic mold mode that automatically generates a rectangular mold with a user defined material around the uploaded CAD model.
Mold Group card Appears for the channel assessment job type when the Use Basic Mold mode is disabled.

Allows you to identify a selection of your model, such as, the mold core, cavity, sprue bushing and ejector pins, as a mold component and define their materials. It lets you categorize them based on their types or material properties.

For additional card options, see the card option table below.
Basic Mold card Appears for the channel assessment job type when the Use Basic Mold mode is enabled.

Allows you to specify the rectangular mold dimensions in mm and define its material.

For additional card options, see the card option table below.
Mold Material card Appears for feasibility and channel recommender job types.

Allows you to define the mold material of the feasibility analyses.

For additional card options, see the card option table below.
Plastic Part card Allows you to identify a selection of your model as the plastic part and define its material.
  • Runners section—Allows you to identify a selection of your model as a cold runner.
  • Configure Hot Runners—This feature is not yet supported. If you're interested in hot runner support, please contact us.
  • Frozen Wall Thickness—Specifies the percentage of the plastic part's thickness that must be solidified before it is considered safe to eject. The default value is 20%.

For additional card options, see the card option table below.
Channels card Appears for the channel assessment job type.

Allows you to identify a selection of your model as cooling channels.
Optional Configuration card Appears for the channel assessment job type.

Defines the following optional simulation parameter:

Expected Cooling Time—Specifies a minimum simulation time to ensure adequate cooling of the molded part. You can use the expected cooling time as the cycle time to assess the effects of longer mold retention or test shorter ejection times to explore intensive manufacturing parameters.
Manufacturing Constraints Appears for the channel recommender job type.

Specifies manufacturing parameters that guide the automatic channel recommendation:

  • Water Temperature—Sets the coolant inlet temperature.
  • Minimum Channel Distance—Specifies the minimum spacing allowed between cooling channel centerlines and the plastic part surface.
  • Channel Diameter—Defines the diameter of the cooling channels to be manufactured.
Close side panel Hides the right panel.
Open side panel Opens the right panel.

Mold and plastic part cards options

The following table lists the options for the Mold Group, Basic Mold, Mold Material and Plastic Part cards.

Option Description
Add Assigns a selection of your model to its corresponding category.
Hide Hides the components categorized in the card.
Show Displays the hidden components categorized in the card.
Select Material Opens the material list to select a material from a list of widely used materials for molds and plastic parts, to define or upload new materials.
Plastic Injection Appears when you select a material in the Plastic Part card.

Sets the temperature of the molten plastic at the time of injection.

You can keep the default value or modify it if necessary. Make sure that the injection temperature is greater than the material ejection temperature.
Target Mold Appears when you select a material in the Plastic Part card.

Sets the target temperature of the mold cavity surface that the cooling system should maintain during contact with the plastic.

You can keep the default value or modify it if necessary.
Select Material list
Add Material Opens the Custom Material window that lets you define a new material.
Upload Materials Lets you upload a CSV file to import multiple materials at once.
Download Materials Lets you download a CSV file with your custom material properties.
View Details Displays the thermal properties of a material.
Edit Lets you modify the properties of a custom material.
Delete Deletes a custom material from the material list.