As product design engineers, we often encounter disconnected workflows utilizing totally different software program packages and never with the ability to switch information from one app to a different simply. For instance, insights gained from a plastics simulation won’t simply make their approach into structural efficiency evaluations.
For plastic injection molded elements, the fiber orientation, materials temperature, and residual stress on the finish of injection molding have an effect on the general power of the half. SOLIDWORKS Plastics simulation outcomes will be exported to varied codecs to bridge the hole between manufacturing realities and mechanical efficiency.
Exporting SOLIDWORKS Plastics Outcomes to Abaqus
The workflow from SOLIDWORKS Plastics to Abaqus is a game-changer for design engineers, particularly for these engaged on injection-molded elements that require excessive efficiency and sturdiness. Outcomes that may be exported from SOLIDWORKS Plastics embody in-mold residual stresses, thermomechanical, and fiber-equivalent materials properties.
Exporting SOLIDWORKS Plastics simulation outcomes
After operating a SOLIDWORKS Plastics examine, with both Fill and Pack or Fill, Pack, and Warp, right-clicking on the Outcomes folder provides you choices to export outcomes. The export course of lets you choose totally different vacation spot software program, together with Abaqus, ANSYS, or Digimat. It’s also possible to embody residual stresses when exporting in-mold Residual Stresses.
How Are Outcomes Exported from SOLIDWORKS Plastics?
The end result information are exported in CGS models, temperature information in levels Kelvin, and stress information in Dyne/cm^2. You will need to be aware that deformed geometry will be exported as nicely by choosing the mannequin possibility. The deformed geometry will be saved as STL, Nastran, and native SOLIDWORKS Plastics (PG3) codecs.
SOLIDWORKS Plastics mildew outcomes
Importing Plastics Information into Abaqus
Importing the leads to Abaqus/CAE brings in all related information wanted to run a simulation examine. Any adjustments to boundary situations, resembling load definition, will be made if wanted.
Within the mannequin tree in Abaqus/CAE, the fabric part has the homogenized brief fiber properties from SOLIDWORKS Plastics outcomes. The fiber orientation of every aspect within the mesh is understood from imported outcomes. This helps the software program decide the power of the half based mostly on the fabric’s fiber orientation.
The Abaqus characteristic tree exhibiting the SOLIDWORKS Plastics information
The enter information exported from SOLIDWORKS Plastics will be straight run in Abaqus/CAE after organising an evaluation job. After operating an Abaqus evaluation, the fiber orientation will be plotted and in contrast in opposition to what was evaluated in SOLIDWORKS Plastics.
Key Functions for Working with SOLIDWORKS Plastics and Abaqus
Combining SOLIDWORKS Plastics and Abaqus can provide the better of each worlds, with the ability to precisely predict stress from the molding course of and utilizing best-in-class structural simulation instruments. Because of this, there are lots of functions throughout a variety of industries that may profit from utilizing the 2 software program packages.
- Automotive: Predict how molded plastic brackets or housings will behave below thermal and mechanical hundreds.
- Client Electronics: Consider warpage-induced stress concentrations in thin-walled enclosures.
- Medical Gadgets: Consider that molded elements preserve structural integrity below sterilization and use.
- Aerospace: Analyze fiber-reinforced plastic elements with directional stiffness and stress profiles.
Bettering Your Plastic Injection Molding Course of
By integrating plastic injection molding simulation with structural evaluation, engineers can enhance a product’s power and reliability, speed up design validation cycles, and reduce costly bodily prototyping. This additionally helps scale back overdesign and materials waste.
Exporting SOLIDWORKS Plastics outcomes to Abaqus isn’t simply one other technical workflow, however quite it’s a strategic transfer towards smarter, simulation-driven design. As engineering challenges develop extra complicated, workflows like this allow bridging the hole between multi-simulation domains and create a digital thread from product idea to its useful efficiency.
To find out about leveraging SOLIDWORKS Plastics in your engineering workflow, click on right here.
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