Running a Conformal cool analysis - 3D

Specific configuration of the conformal cooling channel is required so that the flow through the channel can be simulated properly.

Important: Conformal Cooling analyses are supported on Windows platforms only, and will not run on Linux platforms.

To run a conformal cooling analysis, the following is required:

• The part model.
• A CAD representation of the conformal cooling body.
• Autodesk Simulation CFD installed on the machine that is meshing the conformal cooling channel.
• Access to a Autodesk Simulation CFD license if the analysis is run on a machine that did not mesh the conformal cooling channel.
• Preferably, a simplified CAD representation of the mold model.

For a conformal cooling analysis, the Study tree changes dynamically to reflect tasks still to be completed before the analysis can be launched.

1. Click (Home tab > Import panel > Import), open the part model and select Solid 3D as the type of mesh to be worked with.
2. Click (Mesh tab > Mesh panel > Generate Mesh), and mesh the part.
3. Change the analysis sequence to include Cool (FEM).
4. Select the material to be used in the analysis.
5. Set an injection location for the part.
   Note: A feed system does not have to be modeled to run a Conformal Cooling analysis.
6. From the Study tree, right click Cooling Circuits and select Add Cooling Circuit(s) (3D), and open the CAD model of the conformal cooling circuit
   Note: If the conformal cooling circuit is added via the Home tab > Import panel > Add option, select the imported CAD body and change its property type to Channel (3D)
7. Click (Boundary Conditions tab > Cooling panel > Coolant Inlets/Outlets > Channel (3D) Inlets) and click on the inlet face on the conformal cooling body.
   Tip: The inlet and outlet can also be set by right-clicking the Create cooling circuits... element in the Study Tasks tree.
   The inlet arrow appears on the conformal cooling body.
8. Click (Boundary Conditions tab > Cooling panel > Coolant Inlets/Outlets > Channel (3D) outlets) and click on the outlet face of the conformal cooling body. The outlet arrow appears on the conformal cooling body.
   Note: There should be an equal number of Conformal cooling inlets and outlets.
9. Click (Mesh tab > Mesh panel > 3D Channel Mesh) The Generate 3D Channel Mesh dialog appears.
10. Confirm the parameters are suitable and click Mesh Now.
    Note: While the conformal cooling channel is being meshed with 3D tetrahedral elements, any visible conventional cooling channels will be meshed with beam elements.
11. Model and mesh any additional 1D coolant systems.
12. Model the feed system. The minimum requirement is that an injection location is defined.
13. Define the mold by Importing a mold or by using the Mold Surface Wizard If importing a mold from a CAD package, the following steps are required.
    1. Prior to importing the mold body, ensure that the mold has been simplified in the CAD package by consolidating elements such as bolts or slides into the main mold body. This will simplify the resulting mold mesh.
    2. The volume of any part, runner or feed system must be converted into a void before importing. This can be done within Autodesk Inventor Fusion.

    Complete the modeling process by Generating the mold mesh. This is a two step process.

14. Right click Create 3D Mold Mesh from the Study tree and select Generate 3D Mold Mesh. Ensure the parameters are correct and click Mesh Now. This creates a surface mesh of the mold. By using a cutting plane you can investigate the mesh and ensure it is of sufficient refinement in critical areas of the mold.

    The volume of the mold is now meshed using final mold surface mesh.

15. Right click Create 3D Mold Mesh from the Study tree and select Generate 3D Mold Mesh. Ensure the parameters are correct and click Mesh Now. The volume of the mold has been meshed.

The conformal cooling analysis can now be run by clicking Analyze in Cloud.