At Moulding Expo 2017 SIGMA shows how tool makers virtually optimize their molds upfront with the help of SIGMASOFT® Virtual Molding. Thus, they avoid mold iterations and trial and error on the injection molding machine. The software not only supports the selection of the ideal mold alloy, but also helps to find the optimum tempering concept.
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Comparison of different tempering concepts with SIGMASOFT®
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Between May 30th and June 2nd, 2017,SIGMA Engineering GmbH from Aachen, Germany, presents its SIGMASOFT® Virtual Molding technology at Moulding Expo in Stuttgart, Germany, in hall 6 at booth 6E19. There the software’s application possibilities along the complete product development chain are presented – from the initial part design over the tool design and set-up of the molding process up to serial production. In correspondence with the focus of the show the virtual design of injection molds occupies center stage.
This topic will be intensified by Mr. Mansfeld in a forum of Carl HanserVerlag accompanying the show. On June 1st his presentation “Virtual Optimization of Injection Molding Tools and Processes” will give a deeper insight on virtual mold design. Innovative approaches and different concepts are easily compared virtually. Testing expensive or unusual concepts like conformal cooling or rarely used tempering media is easily done on the computer and their profitability evaluated.
For example picture 1 shows a comparison between a classical oil tempering (right) and a tempering system using pressurized water (left). For the production of the part a mold temperature of 180°C was defined as ideal. However, even with a setoil temperature of 200°C the classical concept was not able to deliver a sufficient or even homogenous temperature in the cavity. The tempering system with pressurized water on the other hand lead to a more homogenous temperature distribution and was closer to the target temperature, even though its medium was only set to 180°C. Finally, this concept also guaranteed a more stable production process.
With the help of SIGMASOFT® Virtual Molding users not only find the ideal configuration of known and well-established mold concepts. They also test new approaches and innovative concepts without risk on the computer. For example the virtual comparison shows the ideal tempering concept without expensive iterations on the real mold.
