Beyond Moldflow Insight

Changing Design Link Version in Older Moldflow Insight and Adviser versions to Access Free 2014 Capabilities

Autodesk Simulation Moldflow Design Link is now a free product with full functionality implemented for the 2014 release. If you are a user that currently would like to use this free functionality but have not yet registered and upgraded to 2014, you can still access Design Link 2014 with your older versions of Insight and Adviser. Below I've detail exactly how to do this.

1. First you must install either Simulation Moldflow Synergy 2014 or Simulation Moldflow Adviser 2014. You don't need to register and setup your licenses (in case you have reasons for not upgrading yet as you should always upgrade when a new version is released) but the software does need installed as we don't have a standalone installation for Simulation Moldflow Design Link 2014.

2. After installing, you need to modify where your previous version looks for Design Link. The process is the same for both Insight and Adviser. The images below are taken from Insight 2013. First access the options as highlighted.

3. Once in the options, navigate to the External Applications tab and select the browse option next to the installation path provided.

4. This allows you to change the path to the mdl.exe application used. Here we're going to browse to the 2014 location. That location is

32-bit OS - C:\Program Files\Autodesk\Simulation Moldflow Design Link 2014\bin\mdl.exe

64-bit OS - C:\Program Files (x86)\Autodesk\Simulation Moldflow Design Link 2014\bin\mdl.exe

5. Hit Apply

Now when importing, the use of Design Link will be provided and will require no licensing to properly work. If you have never had access to Design Link before, ensure you refer to online help if you have any questions. If you have run with a specific version of Design Link before, you'll note that you now have access to more possible files as all functionality is included.

As noted above, we highly recommend that if you have not upgraded to the full Simulation Autodesk Moldflow 2014 version, you do so. That said, this new change with Design Link being free can be leveraged for use within legacy versions.

Modifying Fiber Parameters with CRIMS Material in Simulation Moldflow Insight

ISSUE

If you frequently use the fiber solver within Autodesk Simulation Moldflow Insight, you're most likely aware that there are several models that we use. These include the Folgar-Tucker model and the Reduced Strain Closure (RSC) model, among others. These fiber models allow the modification of several orientation model parameters, such as the coefficient of interaction (Ci) or for the RSC model, the appropriate factor to be applied. One of the most common issues here is that when you change this data and then run an analysis with a material that has been tested for CRIMS, the modified data is reset to the default.

This post will cover how to address this issue when working with CRIMS material. You don't want to potentially diminish the accuracy of your results by using the uncorrected shrinkage model, so it is important to know how to control the software to do both.

RESOLUTION

The means of addressing this is to modify a property within the material file that by default has configured the solver to recognize the default fiber parameters when using a CRIMS material. The easiest approach is to simply change the CRIMS model to use something else, such as uncorrected residual stress. That said, in Dual Domain and Midplane CRIMS is vital to accurate warp calculation. To start you'll need to access the Advanced Options so that you can edit the material file.

Once you're in the Advanced Options, you can now modify the material data by choosing the option to Edit Molding Material.

This takes you the typical Details representation of the material. The primary difference being that you can now modify the material input. From here we want to access the Shrinkage tab and access the CRIMS model coefficients.

The last step has us changing the specification for using CRIMS. Specifically the default which is set to Always (change solver parameters to be consistent with CRIMS model). We want this to be specified as the third option (unless you are concerned with the impact your fiber parameter modifications will have on the validity of CRIMS, in which case you can use the second option).

This third option, Always (even if solver parameters are not consistent with CRIMS model), will ensure the use of your fiber parameters even if they don't match the expected fiber parameters for the CRIMS model. Again, this is something that needs to be taken within context. If the fiber changes could influence the CRIMS validation, it's best to use the second option which will then default to use of the uncorrected shrinkage model if the parameters aren't consistent with CRIMS.

Autodesk Simulation Moldflow Design Link Moving Forward

With the new release of Autodesk Simulation Moldflow 2014 products, there has been a significant change with respect to the Autodesk Simulation Moldflow Design Link product. The post below details these changes and the relevant information with respect to this change.

General Information

All translators are now free. They no longer require a license to run, and there is no longer a separate installation for Autodesk Simulation Moldflow Design Link. It is automatically installed when installing any of the following;

• Autodesk Simulation Moldflow Synergy
• Autodesk Simulation Moldflow Adviser
• CAD Doctor for Autodesk Simulation

All subscription and maintenance costs have been adjusted to reflect this change moving forward.

CAD Model Translators

With the consolidation of all the translators into one product last year, and this change this year as well as new interoperabilty the following products are covered.

This will allow the use of any of the following file types automatically with Autodesk Simulation Moldflow products:

Some of these files are only available for Insight (not Adviser) such as Alias and Rhino.

Technical Details

The installation location and files are still essentially the same. Autodesk Simulation Moldflow Design Link is still just a 32-bit application and installs to the following location;

• 32-bit: C:\Program Files\Autodesk\Simulation Moldflow Design Link 2014
• 64-bit: C:\Program Files (x86)\Autodesk\Simulation Moldflow Design Link 2014

You'll note that there is no longer a LICPATH.lic file as this newest version does not use a license anymore.

This will be a beneficial move going forward for all of our customers.

Autodesk Moldflow Structural Alliance (AMSA) 2014 for Abaqus and ANSYS is available on subscription center

The injection molding manufacturing process influences the structural properties of a plastic product. Often assuming that the properties are isotropic and uniform for a structural analysis is incorrect. AMSA can enhance the accuracy of structural analysis of plastic parts in Abaqus and ANSYS by providing these programs with the properties of the injection molded product, as predicted by Autodesk Simulation Moldflow Insight or Adviser.

The product is available from subscription center for customers with active subscription on Autodesk Simulation Moldflow Insight 2014 or Adviser 2014. After logging into subscription center, you can find the pages 'Autodesk Simulation Moldflow Structural Alliance 2014 for Abaqus' and 'Autodesk Simulation Moldflow Structural Alliance 2014 for ANSYS' in the 'Product enhancements' section. (You need to be logged into subscription center to follow the links).

 

Supported versions of ANSYS are:

• ANSYS Classic 12.1 and 14, 32- and 64-bit versions
• ANSYS Workbench 12.1 and 14, 32- and 64-bit versions 

Supported versions of Abaqus are:

• Abaqus (Standard) 6.10-2 and 6.12-1, 32- and 64-bit versions

Autodesk Simulation Moldflow 2014 Is Now Available

As of March 28, 2013 the new Autodesk Simulation Moldflow 2014 products are available. Over the coming days, as entitlements are fulfilled you should receive the relevant information including serial numbers, product keys, and access to the new installations on the Subscription Center. A few additional notes;

• New product orders processed as of yesterday will get the 2014 release shipped to them.
• Customers that get their product delivered per DVD will need to wait a few extra days for the DVD to be delivered to them.
• This years’ release does no longer contain Autodesk Simulation Moldflow Design Link as a product. The CAD translators are now included within Synergy, Adviser and CAD doctor,  and are no longer available for sale or for subscription renewal.
• The release is currently available in English and Japanese. Customers that have their language in Subscription set to any other language than English or Japanese, will have to switch the language to either English or Japanese on the download page (see below) in order to see the product! 

• Customer will have several ways to download and install their product: Download Now, Browser Download and Install now. 

As with previous releases, once you receive your product serial numbers please contact our Registration and Activation group to get your new licenses generated. This can be done via phone (800-551-1490), email (authcodes@autodesk.com), or online (Register).

After you have your new product licenses, you can complete your product installation as well as configuration of your license service and begin using the Autodesk Simulation Moldflow 2014 products.

Autodesk Moldflow Certification

Autodesk certifications are industry-recognized credentials that can help you succeed in your design career providing benefits to both you and your employer.

The certifications provide reliable validation of skills and knowledge, and they can lead to accelerated professional development, improved productivity, and enhanced credibility.

Would you like to get certified?

For more information please follow this link.

New Scandium Technology preview available

Project Scandium for Autodesk^® Simulation Moldflow^® 2013 software is a free* technology preview that extends simulation capabilities by offering new capabilities to try out and provide feedback.

Highlights:

• New Thermoplastics Bi-injection Molding process for Midplane analysis technology
• New injection-compression and compression molding process simulation capabilities for 3D analysis technology
• New mechanical property prediction for long fiber-filled thermoplastics composites
• Wall slip option added to 3D flow solver parameters
• New Buckling analysis option for 3D analysis technology
• Solver enhancements address accuracy and speed
• FBX export capability

For more information click here or visit our labs sides.

* Free technology previews are subject to the terms and conditions of the end-user license and services agreement that accompanies download of the software.

Potential Autodesk Simulation Moldflow Design Link 2013 issue for Moldflow Scandium Users

Summary:

If you are currently a Moldflow Scandium user (labs build released in September to test new features) you'll note that the build recently stopped working. This is because we implement an expiration date in which the build shuts down. We have determined though, that this can cause a problem with Autodesk Simulation Moldflow Design Link. It should first be noted that this is not a guarantee that an issue will occur, and the majority of users should see no problem.

Issue:

The cause of the issue stems from changes made to the Simulation Moldflow Design Link installation directory during the installation of Scandium. The installer for Scandium updates several files, and as such when the Scandium build expired, deactivated these files and have caused issues with Design Link working properly.

Resolution:

All that said, we do have a workaround to address this issue. Please follow the steps below;

• Uninstall Scandium 2013
• Go to the bin folder under where Autodesk Simulation Moldflow Design Link is installed and remove all files with modified date signature of 7/25/2012.

Default location

64-bit: C:\Program Files (x86)\Autodesk\Simulation Moldflow Design Link 2013\bin
32-bit: C:\Program Files\Autodesk\Simulation Moldflow Design Link 2013\bin

• Go to Control Panel->Programs and Features (Add/Remove Programs on Windows XP) and double click Autodesk Simulation Moldflow Synergy 2013
• On the uninstall window that pops up, choose the option to Repair or Reinstall and select Repair
• After Synergy has been repaired, you can confirm via the installation directory for Design Link. The files deleted above will have been restored with either the FCS date (3/7/2012) or the SP1 date (5/1/2012)

This will address the process if you are experiencing this particular issue.

Best Practices Web Series: Process Replication

For the past few months we've been releasing a monthly video for a web series on specific topics. This current web series is regarding process replication. Below you can find the links to each of the videos released up to this point (Sept-Dec). The 5th and final video for this web series will be released in January.

Best Practices Web Series: Process Replication Introduction:

https://www.brainshark.com/autodeskinc/vu?pi=zHrzkppmVz56ZKz0

Best Practices Web Series: Model Preparation for Process Replication:

https://www.brainshark.com/autodeskinc/vu?pi=zHfz17dwNqz56ZKz0

Best Practices Web Series: Material Selection for Process Replication:

https://www.brainshark.com/autodeskinc/vu?pi=zI2zhjvkez56ZKz0

Best Practices Web Series: Process Settings for Process Replication:

https://www.brainshark.com/autodeskinc/vu?pi=zEPz165IVz56ZKz0

 

Hardware Certification

We offer Autodesk Simulation Moldflow Insight 2013 and 2012 Hardware Certification.

You want to spec a machine to run Autodesk Simulation Moldflow Insight 2013 and Autodesk Moldflow Insight 2012, and are looking for benchmarking guidance on different machine configurations to determine the best machine setup for cost and functionality?  This also includes the ability to interact with the user interface as well as utilize GPU functionality.

Latest Information:

We have certified seven more machines for ASMI 2013.  Please follow the link to see the machines that are certified.