JEC COMPOSITES MAGAZINE - Issue #44 - October 2008 - Special Asia - 12

EQUIPMENT EQUIPMENT EQUIPMENT EQUIPMENT EQUIPMENT Software Know-how before “can do” Composite materials have extraordinary properties, but it is obviously more complex to gain a grasp of them than for homogeneous, isotropic materials. Software is possibly even more useful in composites than in other segments of the mechanical industry. Programmes are becoming more and more specialized, yet their compatibility is increasing. Here are some of the latest software advances. Injection moulding simulation A new version of Moldflow Plastics Insight® − MPI 6.2 − is now available. MPI 6.2 has significant enhancements to work faster on larger models and interface to more applications. In addition, multiple technology enhancements allow users to improve their productivity. The MPI 6.2, 3D Flow solver analysis speed has, on average, more than doubled. This analysis speed improvement allows users to be more productive, which can result in faster turnaround time on projects. MPI 6.2 also supports Microsoft Windows 64-bit operating systems. A key feature is configurable workspaces, which allow the user interface to be customized. Workspaces allow users to significantly reduce their implementation and support costs. MPI 6.2 also contains technology innovations for advanced gate location optimization, a micro-mechanics model to improve warpage predictions of fibrereinforced materials, the extension of 3D gas-assist analysis to predict part warpage, simulation of a new rapid heating/cooling process, venting analysis of thermoset materials and new application programming interface commands that will ensure MPI continues to tightly integrate with customer processes and workflows. A new data export option in MPI 6.2 allows Moldflow results to be used in HyperStudy®, Altair Engineering’s design and process optimization program. www.moldflow.com Lay-up and simulation data between different software tools. This eliminates data translations and inconsistencies between design and analysis and more effectively manages design changes throughout the development cycle. FiberSIM’s unique capability to update a composite design while preserving the design intent eliminates having to start the design over from scratch each time the stress department delivers new specifications. Vistagy’s New FiberSIM® 5.4 software delivers optimized composite designs in a shorter period of time by enabling engineers to perform more design iterations later in the development process − which is essential to effectively evaluate tradeoffs between part performance, weight and manufacturing cost. The software improves the link between analysis and design and provides new tools to enable engineers to design for the specific manufacturing process. These key features make FiberSIM 5.4 a good tool for exploiting innovative uses of composite materials in products. Designing for the manufacturing process New features in FiberSIM 5.4 improve the ability of engineers to design specifically for the chosen composite manufacturing process: • Ramp generation – New capabilities for generating ramp surfaces between ply zones handle multi-directional curvature and allow filleting of the ramp sections, resulting in an accurate surface for the creation of tooling. • Colour-coding of ply boundaries – Tools for colour-coding plies based on material type and ply orientation provide rapid feedback on boundaries and sequences and give engineers a visual representation of the composition of the part to aid the manufacturing process. • Core – New tools allow engineers to develop parts with more complex core conditions and support the multitude of ways engineers want to design with core. • Splicing – In addition to tools for splicing for material width, FiberSIM 5.4 now provides the capability to splice for material handling requirements to aid the lay-up process. Many enhancements also make the tool simpler to operate. www.vistagy.com Closing the loop between analysis and design FEA mesh information created in SimXpert can now be communicated to FiberSIM with the click of a button, creating a common data representation and design tool for composite lay-up. Because FiberSIM is completely integrated into commercial 3D CAD systems, the FiberSIM composite definition and SimXpert's FEA definition are linked directly to the same CAD geometry. Now, products can be designed, validated and optimized without having to translate volumes of JEC Composites Magazine / No44 October 2008

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JEC COMPOSITES MAGAZINE - Issue #44 - October 2008 - Special Asia

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of JEC COMPOSITES MAGAZINE - Issue #44 - October 2008 - Special Asia