PolyFoam: The Five Steps
Five basic steps are required to define and run a foaming analysis.
You must specify a part, add nozzle paths, define tooling, define process parameters, and run the foaming analysis.
Specify the Foam Part
Define the foam part and gravity. Optionally run a pouring cup test to understand the characteristics of the foaming material.
- Click the Foaming tab.
- Optional:
Run a pouring cup test to analyze the foaming material before defining your
part.
-
On the Part icon, click Pouring
Basin.
- Enter the parameters for the pouring cup test on the microdialog, then click Run.
-
On the Part icon, click Pouring
Basin.
- Import or create the geometry of the part.
-
Designate the foam part in the geometry.
- On the Part icon, click Foam
Part to specify the foam part in the model geometry.
- On the Part icon, click Gravity
Direction to align the model with the gravity
direction.
- On the Part icon, click Foam
Part to specify the foam part in the model geometry.
Define the Nozzle Paths
Create or import a path or fixed-point location for the nozzle.
- Click the Nozzle icon to define a fixed position
or path for the nozzle.
- Click the Import Nozzle icon to import a nozzle
path or fixed position from an external .txt or .csv file.
Define Tooling Components
Designate tooling for the foam part in your model geometry.
-
Click the Tooling icon.
-
Select a tool to create or designate a part as that type of component.
- Click Velcro to designate a component as
Velcro.
- Click Insert to designate a component as an
insert.
- Click Guider to designate a component as a
guider.
- Click Mold to create a mold for the foam
part.
- Click Split Mold to define the parting line for
the mold.
- Click Designate Mold to define an imported
mold.
- Click Vents to add point vents to the part.
- Click Line Vent to add line vents to the
mold.
- Click Velcro to designate a component as
Velcro.
Specify Process Parameters
Specify basic and advanced parameters for the foaming analysis.
-
Click the Process icon.
- Select the Basic tab to enter the ending conditions such as Foaming rate, Gelling rate, Time and other parameters as required for the foaming process.
- Select the Advanced tab to define the Open/Close time for the mold and Tilt Pouring parameters as required.
Run a PolyFoam Analysis
Run a polyfoam simulation and review the results.
-
On the Analyze icon, click the Run button.
-
Use the tabs on the dialog to specify parameters for the run:
Tab Options and Parameters Preferences Tab Number of cells Advanced mesh options Customized Results Specimen analysis Sensors parameters Output intervals for injection, foaming and curing processes - Click Run to start the simulation.
- When the simulation is complete, view the results in the Analysis Explorer.