SimuFill

Advanced molding simulation add-on for Abaqus and Moldflow

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SimuFill, our add-on for Abaqus and Moldflow, enables advanced compression and injection molding analyses. Improve your existing software architecture for modeling molding processes!

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The Moldflow add-on provided through SimuFill enables modeling the pvT behavior as a function of the degree of conversion. This includes predicting the crystallization kinetics and curing kinetics for thermoplastics and thermosets, respectively.

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Release date: September 2024

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Short video: Virtual process chain for SMC.

Key features

Fiber_orientation

D-LFT fiber orientation

D-LFT strands are manufactured in an extrusion process, which induces a local fiber orientation. Use our approaches to initialize the local fiber orientation in D-LFT strands, as the basis for accurate prediction of the fiber orientation in the final part.

NGEN_forming

Data transfer

SimuFill enables the data transfer between Abaqus and Moldflow. This enables modeling material forming and material flow in Abaqus and Moldflow, respectively. Based on this, the best-suited numerical technique is used for each stage.

pvt_measurement

pvT modeling

Accurate modeling of the pvT behavior is crucial for the accurate prediction of residual strains due to thermal elongation and shrinkage. Residual strains in turn induce residual stresses and warpage. SimuFill provides sophisticated models for predicting the pvT behavior as a function of the degree of conversion for both, thermoplastics and thermosets.

SimuFill

Crystallization kinetics

Accurate prediction of crystallization kinetics ensures accurate prediction of mold filling and part warpage/spring-in. SimuFill provides the Nakamura-Ziabicki model for Moldflow, which is also used by SimuWarp, our add-on for warpage analyses in Abaqus.

Simufill

Curing kinetics

Accurate prediction of curing kinetics ensures accurate prediction of mold filling and part warpage/spring-in. SimuFill provides different curing kinetics models for Moldflow, which are used by SimuWarp, our add-on for warpage analyses in Abaqus.

Materials & Technologies

We support materials and processing technologies relevant to large-scale production, ranging from sheet molding compound (SMC), over long-fiber-reinforced thermoplastics (LFT), to glass mat thermoplastics (GMT). This includes the combination of chopped fiber materials with tapes or prepregs through local reinforcements or sandwich structures.

Thermoplastic compression molding

Reactive compression molding

Long-fiber-reinforced thermoplastics (LFT)

Compression molding of LFT or tape LFT sandwiches are widespread processes to produce large-scale parts with high geometric complexity.

SimuFill enables the initialization of fiber orientation in LFT strands. Moreover, modeling crystallization kinetics as well as the pvT behavior as a function of the degree of conversion as the basis for accurate warpage predictions is enabled.

Sheet molding compound (SMC)

Compression molding of SMC is an established process to produce large-scale parts with a high geometric complexity for applications at elevated temperatures.?

SimuFill enables the transfer of forming simulation results from SimuDrape to Moldlfow, including the local fiber orientation. Based on this, the best-suited numerical technique is used for each stage, namely material forming and material flow.?

 

Glass mat thermoplastics (GMT)

Compression molding of GMT is an established process to produce low-cost parts with a low degree of geometric complexity and higher demand in mechanical properties compared to LFT.?

SimuFill enables the transfer of forming simulation results from SimuDrape to Moldlfow, including the local fiber orientation. Based on this, the best-suited numerical technique is used for each stage, namely material forming and material flow.

 

Thermoplastic injection molding

Reactive injection molding

Thermoplastics and long-fiber-reinforced thermoplastics (LFT)

Injection molding with thermoplastics and long-fiber-reinforced thermoplastics (LFT) is a widely spread technology for high volumes and high geometric complexity.

SimuFill enables modeling crystallization kinetics as well as the pvT behavior as a function of the degree of conversion as the basis for accurate warpage predictions is enabled.

Thermoset injection molding

Reactive injection molding is a process technology for complex geometries with a higher demand for thermal resistance.

SimuFill enables modeling curing kinetics as well as the pvT behavior as a function of the degree of conversion as the basis for accurate warpage predictions is enabled.