Beyond Moldflow Insight

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.

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.

Autodesk Simulation Moldflow Design Link Deployment Limitation

There currently is an issue with the deployment option for Autodesk Simulation Moldflow Design Link 2013. This is a new feature for the 2013 version, but there are two primary issues with it.

Issue 1:

The first issue is that the installer has the "Browse" option greyed out for modifying the installation path anywhere but the default. So if the plan is to deploy to a custom directory location, the installation path must be typed into the path rather than using the browse option.

Issue 2:

Simulation Moldflow Design Link won't allow installation to a custom path if Simulation Moldflow Insight 2013 or Simulation Moldflow Adviser 2013 have already been installed. This is because the new versions of Simulation Moldflow Insight 2013 and Simulation Moldflow Adviser 2013 install a free version of Design link by default in the default path. When attempting to install the paid version, to a custom location, it can't modify that initial configuration.

The workaround is to either install Simulation Moldflow Design Link 2013 first, or to uninstall other products and then install Simulation Moldflow Design Link 2013. If neither of those options is explored, then it will not be possible to install to a custom directory.

Setting a different mold opening direction for Clamp Force calculation

The analysis output log reports the maximum clamp force required during molding (see Green Square). The calculation of this result is based on the mold opening direction being in the z-direction (as shown in the image on the left). If the model is orientated differently (as shown in the image on the right), the Clamp force result does not reflect the mold situation and so will be incorrect.

Sometimes you do not want to rotate your model to align the mold opening direction with the z-direction.  There can be a couple of reasons for this. One example: Automotive suppliers model their parts in the “car line” orientation and often prefer to keep them in this orientation.

In case you do not wish to rotate the model, but require the clamp force to be reported in the right direction (as shown by the orange arrow in the image on the right) you have two choices:

1.    Define a Local Coordinate System which aligns with the mold opening direction. After the flow analysis has completed, create a Custom Plot, selecting the “Clamp Force on Parting Plane” plot type and selecting the desired axis of the Local Coordinate System. This will produce an XY-Plot of the clamp force evolution from the available intermediate pressure results. This works for all mesh types, however it does not update the clamp force reported in the analysis log.

 

2.    If you want the analysis log to report the correct clamp force for the true mold opening direction you can use a script BEFORE you start the analysis to define the parting plane. (This only works with the Midplane and Dual-Domain flow solver). Select three nodes that lie on the parting plane and then run the script, or enter the node labels of the three nodes when prompted by the script. The clamp force result is now predicted in the direction of the green arrow (see picture below), based on the selected nodes and not in the z-direction of the global coordinate system.

Download Set_Parting_Plane

*  To get the script to work in the Scandium Technology Preview, you need to change the CreateObject call to say “Scandium.Synergy” instead of “Synergy.Synergy”.

Many thanks to Franco Costa for the script and this article.

UPDATE: Development Issue with Multi-Threading for Warp on Select Models in Autodesk Simulation Moldflow Insight 2013

We've identified an issue that occurs in Autodesk Simulation Moldflow Insight 2013 when using multi-threading for warp analyses on models over 1 million elements. This is not a guaranteed occurrance, as many models of this size will run just fine with multi-threading. But some do show this issue.

Outcome:

The issue creates obvious invalid results, typically exceeding 10's of thousands of millimeters in total deflection. Again, this is rare, and it doesn't invalidate any other results.

 

Workaround:

The work around is quite straight forward. You simply need to disable the multi-threading for warp analyses. This is done by opening the Process Settings and stepping to the Warp page. Here change the Number of threads for parallelization to Single thread (No Parallelization). If you already have results, when accepting the changes and selecting Finish in the Process Settings, only the warp results will be cleared so you won't need to rerun the entire analysis.

Moving Forward:

The source of the issue has been identified by our Development team. We're currently working on a hotfix to apply to the software to address the issue moving forward. In the mean time, continue using the software as normal. The situation occurs on a fairly rare basis, and it does not invalidate the accuracy of the results. Due to the obvious nature of the issue, should it occur simply reconfigure the warp to run with a single thread to address the issue. That will then provide the accurate warp results you expect.

 

Update:

This issue has been hotfixed for both Insight and Adviser. Each needs to be at Service Pack 2 level to apply the hotfix, those updates can be found on the Subscription Center. The hotfix can be found on the product support pages (Adviser and Insight) as well as the Subscription Center.

Dual Domain mesh thickness becomes zero on Synergy 2013

In some cases, Dual Domain thickness becomes zero on Synergy 2013 when using Mesh Thickness Diagnostic. In this case, the Dual Domain mesh does not have thickness information.
This behavior is only observed when using IGES file into Synergy 2013 with standard import function.

 

This issue has been solved with 2013 SP1
If you import the IGES file and then create mesh with Synergy 2013 SP1, you can get thickness information.
If you have a subscription contract, you can download 2013 SP1from the subscription center http://subscription.autodesk.com/.

How to add thickness
If you already have a Dual domain model without thickness, Save the Dual Domain mesh model (elements included) as a *.pat (patran format) and read the *.patran model into Synergy. After that, you can get Dual Domain mesh with the thicknesses.

Another way to import IGES file
Select “Use Autodesk Simulation Moldflow Design Link” option on Import dialog box when importing IGES file and mesh it. You can get Dual Domain mesh with the thicknesses.
Note: Synergy 2013 has bundled free Autodesk Simulation Moldflow Design Link function. This function also has ability to import IGES file. (This function is very useful. Supported IGES entity type has expanded. For example, this function supports IGES Solid / Manifold Solid B-Rep Object: Entity Type186)

TIPS for asymmetric fill pattern of 3D mesh

You may occasionally see the asymmetric fill pattern in symmetrical shape part. This type of issue is usually caused by mesh quality or size.

If you face asymmetric fill pattern issue, please try following things.

 

TIPS1: Refine the mesh around the gate

This type of asymmetric filling pattern is often caused by condition of connection between beam and 3d mesh.

If you look at each gate, numbers of connected 3D mesh are different on each gate.

 

You may improve accuracy of fill pattern after making a much finer Dual Domain mesh around the gates and then create 3D mesh from it as below.

 

On this example model, following improvement was observed after using fine mesh around the all gates.

 

 

TIPS2 : Use 3D runner system

You may see improvement, if you use 3D runner system. Following guideline is useful for 3D mesh runner system.

 

1. Use fine 3D mesh for runner system and around the gates.
2. 8 or more layers of elements through the thickness.

 

Following improvement was observed on this example model.

 

 

Note:

You can find following related information for TIPS1 on the “Accuracy Improvements Implemented in the 3D Flow Solver” document ( asmi2013_3d_flow_accuracy_improvements_en.pdf ).

If you have a subscription contract, you can download this document from the subscription center http://subscription.autodesk.com/.

 

The software provides a capability for direct injection into the part for quick scoping and sensitivity analyses. However, when accurate results are desired the runner system should be included. The quality of the tetrahedral mesh around the gate is usually critical to accurately model effects such as the high local pressure gradients and viscous heating, jetting and gate freezing during pack. Preferably reduce the local size of the initial surface elements so that there are at least four tetrahedral surface facets across the gate diameter. (Even that may not be enough, for example if a cutting plane shows a higher temperature near the runner surface due to viscous heating.)

Manually Linking Results to a Study File

For those of us who have run Simulation Moldflow for even a few weeks, you've probably seen a situation in which an analysis simply fails to transfer results back.  Fear not though, as this does not mean you're stuck with having to rerun the analysis.

Before we get into how to address this sort of issue, it's best to first focus on what happens during an analysis.  We utilize what we refer to as the job manager to control the analyses.  The job manager is used for among other things, organizing and launching jobs locally or to other machines as well as doing all the background work like transferring data.  The general process, highlighted in the image below, is to copy the necessary files from the project directory to the temporary directory of the machine analyzing the model in order to run.  This can be the local machine, a job server elsewhere, or now...the cloud.

Once on the machine that will do the analysis, the solvers kick in and run.  Once completed, and during the analysis, data is constantly transferred back to the client through the job manager.  Situations can arise in which the job manager stops running, is blocked completely or partially by security protocols, or the directories involved simply lack the correct read/write permissions.

This leads to a situation in which the analysis completes, and you receive messages saying as much, but you have no actual results.  There is though, a very easy and straight forward way to address this problem and manually do the transfer yourself.

First, ensure that your project on your client machine is completely saved and close Moldflow completely. Navigate to the project directory and locate the project folder in question.  Within this project folder, you'll have numerous files, and depending on the number of studies in the project, this number could be in the hundreds or thousands.  Locate the study in question, and delete all of it's associated *.rfn files.  These files are what links the study to the results.  The convenient thing about *.rfn files is that Moldflow will regenerate them everytime the project is opened if they don't exist.

After you've deleted all these files, navigate to the temporary directory on the machine in which you analyzed your model.  In this directory, copy all the files and paste them in the project folder in your project directory.  From here, all you need to do now is launch Moldflow and open your project.  Because the study in question has no *.rfn files, it will generate new ones with the project being opened.  This process will then link the manually copied result files to the *.sdy file.  From here, you'll now have the results copied over and accessible for viewing.

More information for the new 2013 Release

If you need information befor you start the installation or you like to get more after you had installed have a look here:

Info

You will find this topics: 

Product Information

Training Videos

Troubleshooting

Installation & Licensing

Documentation

3D Probe XY plot – how to regenerate plot for comparison when new, modified study.

Background.
The Probe XY plot uses a part surface position, and is more free in that respect than a node or element position. After you select a location on the part surface, the opposite side of the part is automatically identified and draws a XY plot of the result against distance through the part. You do not key-in a start coordinate, node or element in the Autodesk Moldflow Synergy user interface.


When a Study “A”, with 3D mesh type, using Probe XY plot result, and a new Study “B”, maybe changed in some respect of the design and meshed or re-meshed, and you would like to compare the Probe XY plot result between Study “A” and Study “B”, there is a way to do this by using a macro/API. Macro recording can be used to retrieve the Probe XY plot curve coordinates, and apply the coordinates on another study. 

How to do this.
First, make sure the project is opened in the first Autodesk Moldflow Synergy user interface started. The reason is that macros/scripts can only run in first Autodesk Moldflow Synergy user interface started.

1. In Study “A”: Create the result Probe XY plot (Right-click Results > New plot…)
2. Turn it off, with no curves created
3. Turn on macro recording (Tools > Record Macro)
4. Display the Probe XY Plot, and click on the model to create the probe XY curves
5. Stop the macro recording and save the recording in vbs file. (Tools > Stop Recording)
6. Save Study “A”
7. Open Study “B”
8. Create the result Probe XY plot (Right-click Results > New plot…)
9. Run the macro/vbs (Tools > Play Macro)

If you place the macro in the project folder such as “C:\My AMSI 2013 Projects\commands” folder, the macro can be executed from the command line:
View > User Interface > Command Line
Enter the macro/script name in the dialog and click Go (or hit <enter>) 

Limitation.
The Probe XY plot name in both studies needs to be the same, for the script to find the plot name.
If it is to be applied to another Probe XY plot name, the FindPlotByName2 can be renamed to reflect the plot name.

Example of recording.
SetLocale("en-us")
Set Synergy = CreateObject("synergy.Synergy")
Synergy.SetUnits "Metric"
Set PlotManager = Synergy.PlotManager()
Set Plot = PlotManager.FindPlotByName2("Temperature:Probe XYPlot", "Temperature (3D)")
Set Viewer = Synergy.Viewer()
Viewer.ShowPlot Plot
Set Viewer = Synergy.Viewer()
Set Plot = Viewer.ActivePlot()
Set Vector = Synergy.CreateVector()
Set Vector_1 = Synergy.CreateVector()
Vector.SetXYZ 57.439607, 16.15544, 2.5125
Vector_1.SetXYZ 57.439607, 16.15544, 0.012500048
Plot.AddProbePlotProbeLine Vector, Vector_1
Plot.Regenerate
Set Vector = Synergy.CreateVector()
Set Vector_1 = Synergy.CreateVector()
Vector.SetXYZ 61.076388, 61.82434, 2.2625
Vector_1.SetXYZ 61.076388, 61.82434, 0.26250005
Plot.AddProbePlotProbeLine Vector, Vector_1
Plot.Regenerate 

Reminder note: macros/scripts can only run in first Autodesk Moldflow Synergy user interface started.