Features

Core features of Autodesk Moldflow Adviser include:

• Geometry support for thin-walled parts, as well as thick and solid applications
• Flow simulation that enables prediction and interpretation of plastics flow behavior through a mold
• Productivity tools, like customizable workspaces, a materials database, and a cost adviser
• Structural integrity simulation to help evaluate part and mold design and control shrinkage and warpage
• Results-specific design advice, with dynamic help and a results adviser that suggests methods for fixing common defects
• Quick and easy modeling and optimization of hot and cold runner systems and gating configurations

Detailed Features

• Analysis Technology
• Results Interpretation and Communication
• Plastics Flow Simulation
• Feed System Design
• Mold Cooling Simulation
• Structural Integrity Simulation
• Productivity Features
• CAD Connectivity Products

Analysis Technology

Get unmatched geometry support for thin-walled parts, as well as thick and solid applications.

• 3D Simulation - Perform true 3D simulations using a proven technique based on a solid, tetrahedral finite-element volume mesh. Ideal for electrical connectors, thick structural components, and geometries with extreme thickness variations.
• Dual Domain™ Technology - Analyze solid models of thin-walled parts using patented Dual Domain technology. Work directly from 3D solid CAD models without creating an analysis model, so you can analyze more design iterations and perform more in-depth analyses.
• Optimal Technology Solution - Autodesk Moldflow Adviser helps you choose the optimal solution for your design. During the model import process, the software automatically evaluates geometry to determine which analysis technology - 3D or Dual Domain - is better for a given part.
• Automatic Error Checking and Repair - To produce reliable, accurate results, Moldflow Adviser scans imported geometry, automatically detecting and fixing defects that can occur when the model is translated from CAD software.

Results Interpretation and Communication

Find the quickest path from problem to solution with results-specific design advice. Automatic reporting tools enable you to share results with all stakeholders.

• Dynamic Help - Get context-sensitive help on a results plot, including information on what to look for and how to correct typical problems.
• Results Adviser - Query regions of a model to identify primary causes of short shots and poor part or cooling quality. Then, get suggestions on how to correct the part, mold, or process.
• HTML Reporting - Use the report generation wizard to create web-based reports. Quickly and easily share analysis results with customers, vendors, and design-to-manufacturing team members.
• Microsoft® Office Word and PowerPoint® - Easily export results and images to Microsoft Office 2007 (Word and PowerPoint) for use in formal reports and presentations.
• Autodesk® Moldflow® Communicator - Collaborate with designers and suppliers by exporting results from Autodesk Moldflow Adviser into Autodesk Moldflow Communicator. So all stakeholders can easily visualize, quantify, and compare analysis results. [more... ]

Plastics Flow Simulation

Simulate flow behavior through a mold to help eliminate potential manufacturing problems and optimize part and mold designs.

• Identify Part Defects - Pinpoint the severity and location of potential manufacturing defects, such as weld lines, air traps, and sink marks. Then, make design changes to avoid these problems.
• Thermoplastic Filling - Simulate the filling phase of the thermoplastic injection molding process to predict the plastics melt flow pattern. Help to ensure that mold cavities fill uniformly, avoid short shots, and eliminate, minimize, or reposition weld lines and air traps.
• Thermoplastic Packing - Help to optimize the overall packing profile and visualize the magnitude and distribution of volumetric shrinkage to minimize part warpage and eliminate defects, such as sink marks.
• Molding Window - Evaluate multiple gating schemes, part thicknesses, and materials quickly to determine recommended molding process parameters.

Feed System Design

Quickly and easily model and optimize all types of hot and cold runner systems and gating configurations.

• Gate Location - Automatically identify up to 10 gate locations at once. You can minimize injection pressure and exclude specific regions of the geometry when determining gate location.
• Runner Design Wizard - Guides you through the process of creating runners. Moldflow Adviser creates a feed system based on your inputs for layout, size, and type of components - including sprue, runners, and gates.
• Centerline Import/Export - Import and export feed system centerlines between CAD software and Moldflow Adviser, decreasing modeling time and avoiding runner-placement errors.
• Automatic Runner Balancing - Automatically sizes the sprue, runners, and gates to achieve balanced flow in multicavity and family mold layouts.

Mold Cooling Simulation

Improve molded part surface appearance, minimize part warpage, and reduce overall cycle times.

• Cooling System Design Wizard - Quickly create mold cooling systems by specifying the layout, size, and type of cooling components in your mold.
• Cooling Quality Analysis - Find out which areas in a part aren't cooling effectively and alter geometry to avoid differential cooling, a major cause of part warpage.
• Cooling System Analysis - Optimize mold and cooling circuit designs to achieve uniform part cooling, minimize cycle times, eliminate part warpage due to cooling factors, and decrease overall manufacturing costs.

Structural Integrity Simulation

Evaluate the design of parts and  molds to control shrinkage and warpage and to test the structural integrity of molded products.

• Warpage Prediction - Uncover and isolate the primary causes of warpage resulting from process-induced stresses. Identify where warp is likely to occur, and optimize part design, mold design, and material choice to avoid molded part deformation.
• Autodesk Moldflow Structural Alliance - Export mechanical property data from Autodesk Moldflow Adviser to ANSYS® or ABAQUS® structural analysis software to account for the effects of processing on the performance of fiber-filled injection-molded plastic parts when subjected to service loading.

Productivity Features

Take advantage of customizable workspaces, a materials database, and a cost adviser to further boost productivity.

• Workspaces - Customize the user interface and application features to meet your needs. Set up profiles to guide novice users through the analysis process and identify common problems. Or define profiles that give additional functionality and flexibility to more experienced users.
• Materials Database - The Autodesk Moldflow materials database contains grade-specific information on more than 8,000 plastics materials characterized for use in plastics injection molding simulation.
• Cost Adviser - Better understand the drivers of part cost, and use this information to minimize those costs. Moldflow Adviser helps you estimate product cost based on material choice, cycle time, post-molding operations, and fixed costs.

CAD Connectivity Products

Explore complementary products that offer native CAD model translation and analysis model optimization.

• Autodesk® Moldflow® Design Link - Directly import and mesh solid geometry data from Parasolid®-based CAD systems, Pro/ENGINEER®, and CATIA® V5.
• Autodesk® Moldflow® CAD Doctor - Check, correct, heal, and simplify solid models imported from 3D CAD systems in preparation for analysis using Moldflow Adviser.

 

Find Out More About Autodesk Moldflow Adviser:

• What's New in Autodesk Moldflow Adviser 2010
• See System Requirements
• Compare Moldflow Adviser Products

Moldflow Plastics Labs
Learn about Moldflow Plastics Labs' state-of-the-art plastics material testing services, expert data-fitting services, and extensive material databases for Moldflow software products [more... ]