584,866 active members*
5,215 visitors online*
Register for free
Login

Thread: Moldflow

Results 1 to 11 of 11

Hybrid View

  1. #1
    Join Date
    Dec 2004
    Posts
    120

    Moldflow

    I've posted this on another forum so please forgive me for multiple posting. I'm at a new job (1 week) and have been using a new-to-me-program (Moldflow Advisor) for about 12 hrs that the company now wants to use in diagnosing problems on a part they're having trouble (streaking, local deform) with. I suppose my question would be whether anybody out there has used this program enough to offer an opinion from their experience. Beyond spotting something in thermal, flow, or air pockets I don't know what esle the analysis may be used for. Seems like it's ok for predicting a potential problem in a new mold but I'm still too new with it to estimate what the analysis data can be used for. The company may have higher hopes for the program than it's capable of. This type of program is only something I've seen on pages of a magazine and have no other real world experience with it. I've just learned of this intended use last Friday before I went home so the part and the problem will cross my desk on Monday morning. Any replies are appreciated, thanks for reading this.

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Sep 2004
    Posts
    209
    I'm not a moldflow guy, but as far as I know, moldflow software should be able to help you with everything you listed. They key is interpretation of the results.

    Perhaps a call to the software's help line would be in order. They could clarify the capabilities and limits of the software. You could also ask if there are any online materials and tutorials.

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Dec 2004
    Posts
    120
    First off thank you for a reply, even if it's just an observational opinion. I would have been led to believe the sales hype about the capability too. But I've read a couple of comments on another board that refer to the program as little more than what you would expect from sales/marketing. If there's an obvious mark in thermal, flow, or air pocket analysis that corresponds to a physical mark on the part then that's great. But what if nothing shows up in the analysis that would indicate potential trouble? I've already thumbed through the Moldflow instructional manual, somebody from Autodesk was at the company a few weeks ago getting everybody (but me) able to operate the basics. The manual doesn't have much info beyond the basics, can't seem to find much online either. That's what makes me wonder just how good a diagnostic tool it is. Maybe it's too new in the marketplace for anybody to comment upon it. I'll be putting it through the paces next week if anybody is interested.

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Sep 2004
    Posts
    209
    Quote Originally Posted by roninB4 View Post
    First off thank you for a reply, even if it's just an observational opinion.
    It's observational when it comes to MoldFlow, but we had a consulting firm run an part analysis using VisiFlow in the past. The mold performed exactly the way the analysis said it would. I would think that MoldFlow would be the same (hopefully?).

    Quote Originally Posted by roninB4 View Post
    The manual doesn't have much info beyond the basics, can't seem to find much online either. That's what makes me wonder just how good a diagnostic tool it is.
    Anyone who has used ProENGINEER has experienced this; the software is very powerful, but the documentation is very, very weak ;( MoldFlow could be the same thing.

    Quote Originally Posted by roninB4 View Post
    I'll be putting it through the paces next week if anybody is interested.
    I know I am interested; please post your findings.

    Good luck.

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Dec 2004
    Posts
    120
    I've been using Pro-e since version 2000i and have found a great deal of info out there amongst the users, but little support from PTC. I had hoped to find this the same with Moldflow or any other program that might have a user based discussion forum. I can see how this program might be useful in the design stage just very uncertain the potential when things don't go according to the game plan or when you're trying to find data AFTER the blem shows up. Since I have an impressive 12 hrs. tube time with this it's likely going to be a hunting trip. Hope I can indeed cross reference some anomaly as that would be terrific tool for those in a similar position. Thanks for your reply, I'll post up as things develop.

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Dec 2004
    Posts
    120
    Just a follow up. I used the software to attempt to diagnose the problem last Monday after an e-mail to Autodesk. Since I really haven't been using the program for very long I may not be qualified to comment but here it goes.

    Moldflow seems to be a better tool for the design stage than for diagnosis. It can offer some info to help spot potential problems in the mold through gate location/geometry and process settings but that would be for something that's always ready to appear like hot spots, flow troubles, or pressure drops. You can only simulate the problem IF you've punched in all the variables. So if your material isn't fully dry, or the heater bands on the barrel aren't in the optimum position then an analysis won't show that. It could indicate that no trouble in analysis suggests the problem is in the process.

    Moldflow seems to be useful for "what if" when a new mold is being made or a new/revised design is being considered. Moldflow Advisor is also supposed to be less informative than Moldflow Insight from what I've read.

    Autodesk tech support did send an initial reply, probably company policy. Follow up for furthering the learning of a new user hasn't occured, many of the companies that sell CAD programs aren't much help after the sale unless there's money in training for the seats.

    There is more info available in an analysis, of a more subtle nature, than I was able to detect but a good process tech should be able to determine this by experience IMO.

    I look forward to using/learning this program but it's not a panacea for production problems. I still openly invite more experienced users to reply to this as my knowledge is quite new and limited.

Similar Threads

  1. MOLDFLOW and others Self teaching
    By gmolteni in forum Moldmaking
    Replies: 1
    Last Post: 11-15-2017, 09:31 PM
  2. Moldflow
    By roninB4 in forum Autodesk
    Replies: 0
    Last Post: 06-13-2010, 05:18 AM

Tags for this Thread

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •