Injection locations

The injection location represents the position where polymer is injected, enabling the software to simulate the flow pattern inside the mold cavity.

This topic describes the considerations affecting the selection of injection locations when running a Fill+Pack analysis.

To mold the best part possible, you must identify the optimum injection location. This will create a balanced filling pattern by allowing the extremities of the mold to fill at the same time and under the same pressure. You must also select the number of injection locations required and their positions so that the volumetric shrinkage at the end of the flow is close to the design value.

Note: There is no gate size associated with the injection cone; it simply represents the mathematical starting point of an analysis. A gate should be modeled to ensure accurate results.

If the initial analysis indicates that the fill pattern is unbalanced, you should alter the injection location, or add another one, to solve the problem.

Unbalanced flow

Balanced flow

Gate Location Analysis

The Gate Location analysis is used to identify the most suitable injection location to create a balanced filling pattern.

Using the Advanced Gate Locator algorithm, the Gate Location analysis determines the best locations for the specified number of gates. Prohibited gate location regions are excluded from the analysis.

Note:

• You can iterate your use of the Gate Location analysis to find the next best injection locations as many times as required until a balanced flow path is determined by the proceeding Fill+Pack analysis.
• A new study is created at the end of the Gate Location analysis using the Advanced Gate Locator algorithm with the injection locations added to the model. The new study is ready for a Fill or Fill+Pack analysis.

Using the Gate Region Locator algorithm, if there are no injection locations specified, the Gate Location analysis will determine the best place for a single gate, given the selected material. If one or more injection locations already exist, the result suggests the best place for the next gate location given the selected material.