PIM analysis gets a boost

For those who design MIM and CIM parts, a beefier version of molding simulation software is worth a look. Bestner Inc., developers of PIMflow analysis software, has released a new version that adds a cooling module to its lineup of 2.5-D tools. 

PIMflow 2.01 consists of four modules—filling, cooling, preprocessing, and postprocessing. In addition to the new cooling function, the other three functions have been upgraded to provide more design information. Highlights include the following: 

• PIMflow/Filling considers rheological characteristics of the powder-binder mixture, such as yield stress, apparent slip, and pseudo-plasticity. For viscosity, one of the most important feedstock properties, this module adopts a modified Cross model containing yield stress and slip. Results include slip velocity and slip layer thickness, which cannot currently be obtained from commercial software for plastic injection molding analysis and can seriously influence the analysis results. In the new version, this module offers both a slip velocity and slip layer model, which is able to consider the thermal barrier effect on temperature fields caused by the thin binder region near the mold wall. This leads to more precise thermal results. 

• Under development for several years, PIMflow/Cooling analyzes mold and part cooling using a modified boundary element method. Results also include the effect of thermal contact resistance at the part/mold interface and the insulation effect of the slip layer obtained from PIMflow/Filling. This tool helps designers optimize the cooling system (radius and location of each cooling channel) as well as the process conditions (coolant bulk temperature and volumetric flow rate of each inlet). 

• PIMflow/Pre includes interactive model generation and manipulation tools, automatic mesh generation, and interactive manipulation of analysis conditions. This module can import and edit geometry from other CAD systems through IGES and DXF formats. It also provides a mesh check function to ensure that meshes are compatible between adjoining regions within a model. If a compatible mesh is not possible, Abaqus/CAE automatically generates tied surface interactions across the incompatible interface. 

• PIMflow/Post can visualize analysis results from Filling and Cooling functions, and models can be viewed from any angle at any size. This postprocessing tool incorporates comprehensive shading and contour plots, vector plots, and x-y plotting with animation. It can export plots to graphic formats such as JPG and BMP.