Process Settings Wizard dialog-Microcellular Injection Molding Settings

This page of the Process Settings Wizard, which can be accessed by clicking Process Settings (Home tab > Molding Process Setup panel > Process Settings), is used to specify Microcellular injection molding related process settings for the analysis sequence.

Note: Some of the items listed below may not be available on the current dialog. This is dependent on the mesh type selected.

General settings

Widget Explanation
Microcellular foaming gas
The supercritical fluid options are:
  • N2 (Nitrogen)
  • CO2 (Carbon dioxide)
  • Custom
Initial gas amount
The initial amount of the supercritical fluid can be defined either
  • as a concentration by %weight, or
  • as the gas saturation pressure
Bubble nucleation model There are two options:
  • Constant nucleation density

    This option is the default selection and assumes a constant nucleation density throughout the part. To use this model, you must enter the number of cells per volume.

  • Fitted Classical Nucleation Model

    This option uses the fitted classical nucleation model to predict the number of bubbles in any area of the part. When this model is chosen, the bubble number density will be calculated. The parameters used for this calculation are obtained from the Microcellular material data.

Number of cells per volume

This option is only available if the Constant Nucleation density model is selected.

Enter a nucleation density value. The nucleation density can be determined from scanning electron microscope images of a molded part. The default value was determined from a test plaque molded with Polystyrene.
Tip: If the simulation predicts a short shot, whereas in practice the part fills completely, a possible reason is that the number of cells per volume value is too low.