Injection Unit Settings PropertyManager - Fill Tab

The Injection Unit Settings PropertyManager displays the material and the Fill and Pack settings of the injection process. For Multi Material Overmolding, you can define 2 to 6 injection units.

To open the Injection Unit Settings PropertyManager:

  • In the PlasticsManager, under Injection Units , right-click the required unit definition, and click Settings .

Material

You must assign a material to the injection unit before you specify the Fill settings.
Apply/Edit Material Assigns a material. Do one of the following:
  • Click Apply/Edit Material > Browse the database > Default Database
  • Click Apply/Edit Material > Browse the database > User-defined Database
  • Click Apply/Edit Material > Recently Used, and select a material from the list.

When you select a polymer material, the selected material properties propagate to the appropriate setting of the PropertyManager.

Fill Properties

 Melt Temperature (°C) Specifies the temperature of the polymer at the injection location.

The default value for Melt Temperature is taken from the material database (see the Polymer-Material Parameters tab of the selected material).

Click Reset to reset the Melt Temperature to its default value.

Mold Temperature (°C) Specifies the temperature that the mold is heated to.

The default value for Mold Temperature is taken from the material database.

Click Reset to reset the Mold Temperature to its default value.

If the mold temperature is not constant but varies with time, select Mold Temperature profile to enter the mold temperature data.
  Filling Time Specifies the time it takes the molten plastic to fully fill the cavity.

The program calculates the Filling Time automatically based on the part geometry and the properties of the material you select.

Click Auto to enable editing of the Filling Time.

If you use the Advanced options below to control the filling process, SOLIDWORKS Plastics recalculates the Filling Time.

The following graph shows the variation of injection pressure (y-axis) with respect to filling time (x-axis). The optimal filling time is located at the bottom of the curve. For short or very long filling times, higher injection pressure values are required.
Injection Pressure Limit Specifies the maximum allowed value of the pressure of the polymer at the injection location (or locations).

If the pressure reaches the Injection Pressure Limit value, the inlet flow rate automatically reduces to a value corresponding to this limit, and the Filling Time is longer than the requested value.

You can adjust the default Injection Pressure Limit according to the capacity of your machine.

Click Reset to reset the Injection Pressure Limit to its default value.
Flow/Pack Switch Point (% Filled Volume) Controls the process changes from FLOW to PACK.

During FLOW, polymer is forced into the cavity at a given flow rate, regardless of pressure. To avoid a rapid pressure rise and potential damage to the machine, it is common to switch from FLOW to PACK just before the cavity becomes full, for example at 95% of the cavity volume.

Temperature Criteria for Short Shots (°C)

If the temperature in the molten polymer is below this temperature value, a warning appears in the AnalysisManager.

If the temperature stays below this value for several iteration steps, a short-shot occurs. The polymer solidifies and the melt flow stops.
  Multi general Gate Flow-rate/Press control

Equivalent

Distributes equal flow rates at each injection location, with potentially different resulting pressures.

Automatic

Balances the flow between injection locations to produce equal pressures, simulating the effect of a runner system.
Available for a shell analysis procedure with multiple injection locations.
Flow Rate Profile Settings Controls the flow rate during the filling of the cavity by defining a Flow Rate Profile based either on volume or time control.

See Injection Unit Settings - Flow Rate Profile Settings.
  Mold Temperature Profile Defines the mold temperature variation for cases where the mold temperature is not constant.

See Injection Unit Settings - Mold Temperature Profile.
  Viscoelastic Birefringence Calculation

Activates the Birefringence calculation. To use this option, apply a polymer that includes definitions for the Birefringence material parameters.

These material parameters are the Leonov parameters in listed in the Material database.

Mold-Melt Heat Transfer Coefficient

The heat transfer between the polymer and the mold walls varies during the different stages of the injection process.
Filling Stage Specifies the heat transfer coefficient for the filling stage.

During this stage, the polymer enters the cavity, and the heat transfer raises to the maximum value.
Packing Stage Specifies the heat transfer coefficient for the packing stage.

During this stage, the polymer is in contact with the mold walls and the heat transfer stays at the maximum value.
Detached Stage Specifies the heat transfer coefficient for the ejection stage.

During this stage, the polymer shrinks during the precooling time and detaches partially from the mold walls. The heat transfer is reduced.