This case presents an analysis using Cadpress for an automotive radiator support. The figure on the right shows the solid model of the part (courtesy of The Budd Company). As can be seen in the figures, this is a complex part where charge placement and molding conditions have a great effect on the mold filling of the part. The main goal of the mold filling study was to avoid knit lines in those areas of structural importance. The part is compression molded out of SMC.
The initial charge layout in after the filling simulation generates a knit line in the area indicated with a circle. Here the knit line is located in an area of structural importance. In order to change the location of the knit line a new charge layout must be tested. With Cadpress is easy to test different cases in the computer to optimize mold filling and either avoid or relocate knit lines.
Initial charge layout and mold filling – circle indicates knit line location.
Figure 2 shows a better charge layout that eliminates the initial knit line. The optimized charge layout successfully leads to a much stronger part. The use of Cadpress proved invaluable to this project. Without Cadpress more tedious and expensive trial and error must be done in order to optimize the process.
Optimized charge layout and mold filling.
