Faster, smarter injection molding simulationFaster, smarter injection molding simulation
An up to 80% reduction in simulation time: that's the gaudy claim for elastomer application simulation made by Sigmasoft regarding the latest iteration of its 3D simulation software, Version 5.0. SIGMA Engineering GmbH introduced Sigmasoft Version 5.0 at the DKT Conference in Nuremberg. SIGMA thinks that kind of speed could push 3D simulation from a one-time design step to an everyday process assessment tool.
July 27, 2012
An up to 80% reduction in simulation time: that's the gaudy claim for elastomer application simulation made by Sigmasoft regarding the latest iteration of its 3D simulation software, Version 5.0. SIGMA Engineering GmbH introduced SigmasoftVersion 5.0 at the DKT Conference in Nuremberg. SIGMA thinks that kind of speed could push 3D simulation from a one-time design step to an everyday process assessment tool.
The company says that thanks to a "completely reengineered solver technology and a revolutionary meshing concept", simulation time required in elastomer applications can be reduced by up to 80%, allowing simulation to be integrated into elastomer processing on a daily-basis, both for part design and process troubleshooting.
Sigmasoft simulation mesh
Sigma executive manager Marco Thornagel noted in a release that not long ago, users could wait days to get the results of a simulation. "It was not viable to use simulation to support every-day production activities, or to quickly optimize products," Thornagel said. "Now, however, simulation can be part of the daily production tools used in the mold shop or in the production floor, to deliver reliable and profitable answers both to design new products and to optimize existing molds."
Sigmasoft is able to integrate all elements in the mold within the simulation by using "Finite Volume" numerical methods, so that not only can the cavity be considered in the simulation, but also the complete real mold configuration, including cooling channels, heating elements, and inserts.
New to Version 5.0 is the reengineered meshing technique that uses what the company calls "unstructured meshes." Sigmasoft said these are "intelligent meshes," that can automatically mesh finer regions where complex thermal and flow phenomena take place, such as part boundaries, thin walls or complex runner systems.
It can also save mesh elements in regions where fewer interactions take place, such as mold boundaries. Ultimately, the calculation effort is reduced and the productivity of the software increases.
Parallelization in the new solver architecture also makes it possible to fully exploit multi-core technology in state-of-the-art computers. Beyond a significant reduction in computational time, the technology now allows users to simulate more complicated injection molding processes. This will be now the focus of further developments in the software, according to Sigma.
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