The targeted removal of heat from a part can be achieved using conformal cooling. It is now possible to account for these complex cooling channels in an analysis, using the Cool (FEM) solver.
In an effort to increase product quality and reduce cycle time, some current molds designs incorporate highly optimized, complex cooling channel shapes that follow the contours of the part, instead of the traditional, circular cross-sectional cooling channels. These shapes and variable cross-sections are far too complex to allow an accurate simulation of the cooling of the part, if they are represented by beam elements.
The new Conformal Cooling feature introduces the ability to model channels with any cross-sectional shape and direction.
Conformal cooling channels are imported as a CAD model, then meshed and incorporated as a 3D component of the mold model. With this approach, we can take advantage of advanced Computational Fluid Dynamic (CFD) simulation technology to analyze the coolant flow. A new streamline plot option was added to the new 'Velocity, Channel (3D)'' result to visualize the velocity and path of the water flowing through the cooling channel.
Note: To run a conformal cooling analysis you will need a valid Autodesk Simulation CFD desktop license, or use Autodesk Sim 360 Moldflow, which includes Autodesk Simulation CFD and Autodesk Simulation Mechanical capabilities.
Rapid Heating and Cooling analyses can also be performed using conformal cooling channels.
Note: A mold model may include both traditional cooling channels represented by beam elements and separate, conformal cooling channels represented by 3D elements.
Important: To obtain the fastest and most accurate pressure drop results for cooling channels that can be represented using the traditional beam elements, please use a beam representation rather than using a 3D representation.