View/Edit Valve Gate Controller dialog

This dialog is used to setup the various parameters of the valve gate controller. To access this dialog, click (Boundary Conditions tab > Feed System panel > Valve Gate Controllers > Create/Edit), then check one item and click the Edit button.

The editable sections of this dialog will change depending on the choices you make. The variable speed valve gate controller specific parameters can only be edited if your model has a Dual Domain, or Midplane mesh, and you have selected the Variable speed option.

Dialog element	Explanation
Controller name	Enter a unique name, to help you distinguish between this valve gate controller and others that may have already been created.
Valve gate trigger	There are several ways to trigger the valve gate. Select from: Time Flow front - The default point of control is the gate node, but this can be changed to a specified node if you prefer. Once the valve gate has opened, subsequent triggers are programmed by time. Pressure - The default point of control is the gate node, but this can be changed to a specified node if you prefer. %Volume Ram position - For multiple barrel thermoplastics injection molding, this refers to the ram position of the barrel associated with the hot gate to which the valve gate controller is attached. Though a valve gate is associated with its upstream barrel automatically by the software, make sure the ram position triggers are within the moving range of the ram speed profile set for the barrel, otherwise the valve gate may not open and/or close as expected.
Trigger location	This option only appears if you select Flow Front or Pressure as the valve gate trigger. You can select the gate as the trigger location, or you can specify a node. The node is highlighted in red and the node label displayed in the graphic window.
Valve gate initial state	This is set to Closed by default. If you want the valve gate to be open at the start, change this entry to Open. If you have selected Flow Front as the valve gate trigger, the valve gate initial state is closed and is not editable.
Delay time	This option appears only if you select Flow Front as the valve gate trigger. The delay time is the amount of time you want to wait after the flow front has passed by the control point before opening the valve gate.
Valve gate open/close velocity	Some valve gates open instantly the moment they receive a trigger, while others can be programmed to open in a velocity controlled manner. Select from: Instant - this is the default setting. Variable speed - this option is available for Midplane and Dual Domain mesh types only.
Valve gate open/close times	This table is used simply to identify when the valve gate will open and when it will close. Only one open/close action is supported. If you have selected Variable speed, details of the opening and closing will be entered in a separate table.
Variable speed controller parameters These entries are only available for Midplane and Dual Domain mesh types, if you have selected Variable speed for the valve gate open/close velocity. Maximum pin stroke Nominal pin diameter	Maximum pin stroke The maximum pin stroke is the distance over which the velocity will be controlled. If the total pin travel distance that you define by the open or close velocity profile does not match the stroke value you entered, the velocity profile will be extended or truncated by the pin stroke and a warning message will be thrown, informing you of this event. Nominal pin diameter The nominal pin diameter is the diameter of the straight section of the valve pin, prior to any changes in geometry at the pin tip.
Variable speed profiles for opening and closing These entries are only available for Midplane and Dual Domain mesh types, if you have selected Variable speed for the valve gate open/close velocity Open tab This information is required if you have selected the Variable speed open/close velocity option. There are two options for defining the speed with which the valve gate is opened: Distance vs Time Distance vs Velocity	Enter the specific requirements for opening the valve gate. As you enter the information, the plot will automatically update to show you the information visually. Make sure you pay attention to the units, and enter the numbers appropriately. For example, distance is entered in mm. In the Distance increment column, enter the distance you would want the pin to move. For example, if you want the pin to move 1 mm for a certain amount of time, and then you want it to move 2.5mm over a different time period, you would enter 1 in the first row and 2.5 in the second row. In the Time column, enter the time over which the pin should move the specified distance. If you select Distance vs Velocity, in the Velocity column, enter the speed in mm/s that you want the pin to move the specified distance. Tip: To delete a row, highlight the entire row, then press Delete on your keyboard.
Variable speed profiles for opening and closing These entries are only available for Midplane and Dual Domain mesh types, if you have selected Variable speed for the valve gate open/close velocity Close tab This information is required if you have selected the Variable speed open/close velocity option. There are two options for defining the speed with which the valve gate is closed: Distance vs Time Distance vs Velocity	Enter the specific requirements for closing the valve gate. As you enter the information, the plot will automatically update to show you the information visually. Make sure you pay attention to the units, and enter the numbers appropriately. For example, distance is entered in mm. Tip: To delete a row, highlight the entire row, then press Delete on your keyboard.