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The gray area in the center of the VISI-Flow display shows the automotive part has not filled after 3 sec, a condition possibly cured by adding a vent. Colors indicate the position of the wave front. Other software capabilities include temperature profiles and indicators for warp. |
Software helped show that runner and gate locations were to blame for difficulties with a poorly performing mold. DMC Mold & Tool, Cary, Ill, simulated the mold-filling process with VISI-Flow soft-ware from Vero International, Wixom, Mich. "The software lets us look closely at runners, gates, and cooling," says DMC President and owner Dustin Carlson. "In this case, it revealed molded-in stresses that weakened the parts. That revelation gave the client confidence in DMC because it pinpointed the problem. Then we showed how better gate placements and sizes would solve the problem," he says.
"Before VISI-Flow, we relied on client experience to locate and size gates and runners," says Carlson. "But they often struggle to set good mold specifications. Many projects suffer from such guesswork."
"With the new software, however, we see results soon after making design changes. What's more, the simulations are good sales tools. The software also assists quoting jobs," adds Carlson.
MAKE CONTACT
DMC Mold & Tool Corp., dmcmold.com
Vero International, (248) 869-4040, veroint.com