Process Settings Wizard dialog-RIM Settings

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

Note: Some of the items listed below may not be available on the current dialog. This is dependent on the mesh type, molding process and analysis sequence selected.

Dialog element	Explanation
Mold surface temperature	The temperature of the mold at the plastic-metal interface, where the plastic touches the mold. In cases where this is an input box, enter the required mold temperature. Note: The temperature of the mold affects the cooling rate of the plastic. The mold temperature cannot be higher than the ejection temperature.
Melt temperature	The temperature of the molten plastic, or melt, as it starts to flow into the cavity. In cases where this is an input box, enter the required melt temperature. Note: If the model has a runner system, the melt temperature refers to the temperature of the melt as it enters the runner system. If the model does not have a runner system, the melt temperature is the temperature of the melt as it exits the gate(s). The melt temperature cannot be lower than the Transition temperature.
Nominal injection time	Enter the injection time that you would use with the injection unit for the process. The actual predicted injection time will be affected by the injection profile settings specified on the next page of the Wizard and the predicted fill pattern.
Melt initial conversion	Enter a value between -1 and 1 to specify the initial conversion (curing) level at the injection location.
Curing time	The time taken for a thermoset material to become sufficiently cross-linked from heating to form a solid and freeze.
Machine pressure limit	The maximum allowable hydraulic pressure that can be used on the injection molding machine. You can set either a maximum machine injection pressure or a maximum hydraulic pressure with conversion ratio. Specify the maximum pressure limit for the injection molding machine.
Intensification ratio	The ratio of the material pressure in front of the screw, compared to the oil pressure in the piston of the injection molding machine. You may find this ratio in the machine manual. The typical ratio is 10, and the range of the ratio is between 7 and 15. Enter the required intensification ratio. Tip: You can calculate the material/hydraulic pressure ratio by dividing the piston area by the screw area.
Filling control	Specifies the method by which the filling phase of the analysis is controlled. Select the method to control polymer injection during the filling phase. Note: If you select Ram Speed Profile, you must select the profile variables, and enter the profile. Relative/Absolute/Legacy ram speed profile Specifies the two variables by which the ram speed profile is controlled. Select the ram speed control method from the drop-down list. Injection time Specify the time it takes for the part to fill completely. Click Edit profile and enter the ram speed profile. Flow rate Specify the flow rate of the polymer as it is injected into the mold cavity.
Velocity/pressure switch-over	The criteria by which the molding machine will switch from velocity control to pressure control. Select the required switch-over method in the drop-down list, and then specify the switch-over point. Note: On a typical molding machine, the standard setting will be 99% of volume filled. If the switch-over is occurring early, look for a short shot or check material compressibility has been taken into account when setting the velocity/pressure switch-over point. By % volume filled Specify the percentage of volume filled value at which the switch-over point from velocity control to pressure control should occur. By injection pressure Specify the injection pressure value at which the switch-over point from velocity control to pressure control should occur By clamp force Specify the clamp force value at which the switch-over point from velocity control to pressure control should occur. By pressure control point Specify the switch-over point by selecting a pressure control point inside the cavity. Once the specified pressure is reached at the selected node, the program will change from velocity to pressure control, and the pressure profile will be applied. Enter the node number and pressure to specify the pressure control point. By injection time Specify the injection time value at which the switch-over point from velocity control to pressure control should occur. Velocity/pressure switch-over will occur as soon as this amount of time in the filling phase has elapsed. By ram position Specify the ram position value at which the switch-over point from velocity control to pressure control should occur. By hydraulic pressure Specify the hydraulic pressure value at which the switch-over point from velocity control to pressure control should occur. By whichever comes first Specify the switch-over point from velocity control to pressure control, by setting more than one of the available switch-over criteria. Click Edit switch-over settings to set the switch-over criteria. Velocity/pressure switch-over will occur as soon as one of the specified criteria is fulfilled.
Pack/holding control	Specifies the method by which the pressure phase of the molding process is controlled. Select the required control method, click Edit profile, and then enter the pressure profile. Important: For Injection-compression analysis, Pack/holding control controls the injection unit, not the compression unit. %Filling pressure vs time Controls the packing phase of the molding cycle as a function of percentage filling pressure versus time. Packing pressure vs time Controls the packing phase of the molding cycle as a function of injection pressure versus time. Hydraulic pressure vs time Controls the packing phase of the molding cycle as a function of hydraulic pressure versus time. %Maximum machine pressure vs time Controls the packing phase of the molding cycle as a function of percentage maximum pressure versus time.
Preconditioning analysis	Specifies whether a preconditioning analysis should be performed. Preconditioning data are used to calculate the melt temperature. If you choose to perform preconditioning analysis, click Edit Data... to specify the preconditioning data.
Fiber orientation analysis if fiber material	Enables a Fiber orientation analysis if the material includes fiber.