Sigma Engineering, a German multi-discipline engineering and design company, will present the latest application of its Sigmasoft virtual modeling software during the Fakuma 2018 plastics show.
The company will be showcasing Sigmasoft Autonomous Optimization, which in addition to the virtual design of experiments (DoE) also automatically determines the optimum process configurations to achieve the given target, such as short cycle time or balanced part filling with low pressure requirement.
The company recently applied the technology in a joint project with Momentive Performance Materials GmbH, EMDE MouldTec GmbH, Wittmann Battenfeld GmbH, and ACH solution GmbH, for the design of a pot cloth from liquid silicone rubber.
The simulation technology was used throughout the whole development, mold and process stages of the project starting from the part design phase.
At later stages of the process, the technology assisted in finding the optimal connection via the cold runner or in designing an appropriate heating cartridge concept to achieve a homogenous temperature distribution.
The pot cloth, explained Sigma, is a complex part with a shot weight of 95g and a flow length of 135mm with a predominantly maximum wall thickness of 1 mm.
This makes a uniform part filling without the premature start of a curing reaction critical to quality.
Here, the DoE helped establish the right number and best positions for the cold runner nozzles.
“With this approach, any number of variants can be calculated in a single simulation and afterwards can be compared and evaluated on the basis of predefined target values, for example pressure requirements and risk of air entrapments,” Sigma explained.
Additionally, Sigmasoft also offered ideal process settings and helped optimize the heating concept of the mold at later stages.
Based on the results of the virtual analysis the mold was then built by EMDE MouldTec.
