Part Insert (3D) dialog-Part Insert Properties

This dialog is used to edit the properties of tetrahedral elements of type Part insert (3D).

In the Material from which this feature is made section of the dialog, choose a type of material and then the specific material of that type.

In the Local heat transfer coefficients section of the dialog, select the heat transfer effectiveness (HTE) criteria to be applied to the elements.

Specify the initial temperature of the part insert when it is placed in the mold and the amount of time it will be in contact with the mold before injection.

Assign a unique name to the insert.

The collection of property values defined on the dialog are saved to a property set with the description shown in the Name box. In addition, you may be given the option to also apply the property values to related entities in the model.

Dialog elements

Material from which this feature is made

Use the drop-down menu to select whether you want the feature to be constructed from resin or metal. An insert block can be a non-plastic material (usually metal) that is molded into the part, or pressed into the part after molding, in order to achieve a desired cavity shape and/or cooling effect.

Click Select to edit the properties of the selection you made.

Local heat transfer coefficients

Specify the heat transfer effectiveness (HTE) criteria to be applied to the selected tetrahedral elements.

Use global setting in advanced options

Use this option if you want to use the thermal properties specified in the Advanced options of the Process Setting Wizard.

To view the global settings,

1. Click (Home tab > Molding Process Setup panel > Process Settings).
2. Click Advanced options.
3. In the Solver parameters group, click Edit.
4. Select the Mesh tab.

Perfect contact

When selected there is no heat resistance between the part and the mold surface. When this option is selected the wall nodes are a fixed thermal boundary for analysis purposes.

Local heat transfer coefficients

Allows you to specify the heat transfer coefficients for the selected tetrahedral elements. Click Set to adjust or view the Heat Transfer Coefficients for the selected tetrahedra.

Note: When assigning the heat transfer coefficient to an in-mold label, it is the ratio of thermal conductivity of label to the thickness of the label.

Interface conductance

Specifies the ability of heat to be dissipated from the selected region of the mold. A greater interface conductance means the greater the ability for heat to be extracted.

Enter the required interface conductance value.

Note: You can specify interface conductances for an in mold label, mold insert, or a parting surface.

Mold surface temperature

Specify how the mold surface temperature of a selected area on the surface of the model is defined.

Use mold surface temperature in process settings- the value is obtained from the Process Settings Wizard(Home tab > Molding Process Setup panel > Process Settings), and used throughout the molding cycle. This option is selected by default.

Constant - this option allows you to specify a constant temperature for the selected area, which is different from the temperature value that is assigned in the Process Settings Wizard.

Profile - this option allows you to define a varying mold surface temperature for the selected area throughout the molding cycle.

Initial temperature for production start-up

This property is only used for Production Start-up analyses. Enter the temperature of the mold before the analysis starts.

Mold half assignment

The mold half assignment is important if you are using cartridge heaters or rapid heating and cooling, and want to extend the mold-open time. In order to simulate the heat transfer across the mold surfaces, the program needs to know which components are assigned to which mold half. The default setting is Automatic, in which case the program will try to identify the location of the parting plane. It is advisable that you assign the mold halves for meaningful results.

Name

The collection of property values defined in this dialog are saved to a property set with the description shown in the Name box. You can leave the default or type in a different name.

Thickness

Specifies the required thickness of the model area represented by the selected element(s).

Enter the required element thickness.

Initial temperature

Specifies the initial temperature of the part insert when it is placed in the mold. The default value represents ambient room temperature but can be modified if, for example, you want to simulate an insert that has been heated before insertion in the mold.

Exclude from warpage calculation

Select this option if you want to exclude the selected part surface elements from the warpage calculation.