A
domain
represents a volume in space through which you simulate a heat or fluid flow.
You can create domains in two ways:
- By defining a domain type on real geometry represented as a
solid body.
- By creating a simulation-only domain inside SOLIDWORKS
Plastics. Examples of such domains are sketch-based runners, sketch-based
cooling channels, and virtual molds.
Domain Types Based on Solid
Bodies
When one solid body exists in the model and you create the study with the
solid or shell analysis procedure, the software assigns the cavity domain to the body.
If multiple solid bodies exist in the model, the software does not assign the domain
types. To assign a domain type to a solid body, under the
Domains node
,
right-click the body and assign the appropriate type.
For the
analysis to proceed, you must assign a domain type to each body or exclude from the
analysis the bodies without a domain type. For the shell analysis procedure, the
only supported domain type for a solid body is cavity.
| Geometry-Based
Domain Types |
 |
Cavity |
A void corresponding to the mold
cavity into which you inject molten polymer to create the molded
part. A simulation must include at least one cavity. These injection processes allow only one
cavity: Bi-injection,
Co-injection,
Gas-assist, and
Water-assist.
|
 |
Hot
Runner or Cold Runner |
A Hot
Runner corresponds to the channel system through
which the molten polymer flows from the injector nozzle. The
Hot Runner domain also encompasses the
sprue and the gate. You can have multiple Hot
Runner domains. The Hot
Runner domain is not available with the shell
analysis procedure. The Cold Runner
corresponds to cooling channels defined in terms of sketches or
solid bodies, and for both shell and solid analysis
procedures.
The Hot Runner and Cold
Runner domains are available with SOLIDWORKS
Plastics Professional and SOLIDWORKS Plastics
Premium.
|
 |
Insert |
A solid body that is placed inside a mold cavity
before you inject the molten polymer. You can have multiple insert
domains. The insert domain is not available with the shell analysis
procedure. The Insert domain is available with SOLIDWORKS
Plastics Professional and SOLIDWORKS Plastics
Premium.
|
 |
Cooling
Channel |
A component of the channel system
through which coolant flows to remove heat from the mold and
maintain the required temperature. You can have multiple cooling
channel domains. The cooling channel domain is not available with
the shell analysis procedure. The Cooling Channel domain is
available with SOLIDWORKS Plastics Premium.
|
 |
Mold |
A representation of the mold. A
mold may be idealized as a single domain. You can create multiple
mold domains from separate bodies that represent individual mold
components. The mold domain is not available with the shell analysis
procedure. The Mold domain is available with SOLIDWORKS
Plastics Premium.
|
To exclude a domain from the analysis, under
Domains
, right-click the
selected domain node, and click
Exclude from
Analysis. To include an excluded domain back in the analysis,
right-click the excluded domain node, and click
Include in
Analysis.
Simulation-Only Domain Types
Right-click the
Domains
node
to access the appropriate
PropertyManager to create simulation-only domains corresponding to cooling channels,
runner systems, or virtual molds. The software creates these domains for the purpose of
simulation only, and it does not add new geometry bodies to the model.
These simulation-only domain types are available for both shell and
solid procedures.
 |
Cooling Channel |
Opens the Cooling Channel
PropertyManager. The Cooling Channel domain is
available with SOLIDWORKS Plastics Premium.
|
 |
Runner System |
Opens the Runner
System PropertyManager. The domain is available with SOLIDWORKS Plastics
Professional and SOLIDWORKS Plastics Premium.
|
 |
Virtual Mold Design
|
Opens the Virtual Mold Design PropertyManager.
The Virtual
Mold Design domain is available with SOLIDWORKS
Plastics Premium.
|
Domain Order
Domain order is an integer number that defines the filling
sequence, and determines the number of allowable material assignments. By default, the
software assigns the domain order of one to all domains. If the
Domains node
contains multiple domains of the same domain type, you
must specify the order number to be greater than one.
Use a domain
order greater than one for these actions:
- To specify multiple materials for the domains of the same
type such as for multi-material overmolding.
- To specify the sequence of fill.
To change a domain order, right-click one of the domain nodes that share a
common type, and select the required order. You cannot change the domain order for
single-material injection processes.