Computer Filling Simulation of Injection Molding Based on 3D Surface Model

Abstract

Computer simulation packages have been successful in predicting filling behavior in extremely complicated geometries, and most of the current numerical solutions are based on a hybrid finite-element/finite-difference scheme and the middle-plane model. This imported model causes some inconvenience during applications. This study introduces surface model as the datum plane, instead of the traditional middle-plane model and additional boundary conditions in the gapwise direction are employed to keep the flows in the surfaces at the same section coordinative. The simulation presented here is compared with the experimental results obtained with instrumented test mold and C-Mold results. It is demonstrated that the present formulation is well suited to handle cavities generated directly by mold design process with computer aided design (CAD) tools.

Keywords:

• Finite element method
• Injection molding
• Numerical simulation
• 3D model

Acknowledgments

The authors would like to acknowledge financial support from the National Natural Science Foundation Council of the People's Republic of China, under Grant No. 59975032.