A new release of simulation software, for optimising part and mould design for injection moulded plastics, identifies and solves problems faster and speeds up design-to-production process.
A new release of Moldflow Plastics Insight, the simulation software for optimising part and mould design for injection moulded plastics, has been announced by Moldflow. Due to begin shipping to customers on 16 December, MPI4.0 contains hundreds of significant and often user-driven enhancements to help identify and solve problems faster and streamline the design-to-manufacturing process. These include: * 3D simulation: enhancements further extend the scope of MPI's 3D problem-solving capabilities to a much wider range of part designs, including applications as diverse as toothbrushes and shaving systems to the intricate designs of semiconductors and connectors.

Specifically, the new capabilities include the ability to predict the warped shaped of a moulded part, the ability to analyse the two-shot sequential and insert overmoulding processes, and the extension of MPI/3D to include microchip and underfill encapsulation processes.

* Product Customisation and Connectivity Features: in direct response to user requests, a new Application Programming Interface (API) has been integrated into MPI 4.0.

This important feature allows users to automate a variety of common tasks, customise their user interface, implement standardised corporate protocols and best practices, and seamlessly interface with a variety of third-party software applications.

These features will considerably reduce the amount of time engineers spend doing repetitive tasks and will allow them to focus on performing in-depth analysis.

Early users of the beta versions are saying that they are able to reduce the number of mouse clicks needed to perform model preparation by a factor of twenty, compared to doing the same manually.

* Modelling and Meshing: MPI 4.0 I incorporates enhanced modelling and meshing tools that make it easier than ever to optimise analysis models.

The improvements in MPI 4.0 make it possible to quickly check, and if necessary, correct the mesh, decreasing model preparation and mesh preparation time.

* Material Intelligence Tools: for the first time, these allow users to quickly identify the material that is most suitable for their design.

When users invest in MPI, they not only get state-of-the-art technology, they also join the Moldflow user community, the largest, strongest, and most long established in the industry.

The release of MPI 4.0 gives users access to the Moldflow Community Centre (MCC), which features a set of browser-based tools that foster interaction and collaboration among users and with Moldflow.

Moldflow offers a variety of training options for MPI 4.0, including traditional instructor-led classes, live web-based online training, and self-paced, web-based classes.

Students can select the type of training that best suits individual schedules and work loads.

To evaluate training options and obtain a complete training schedule for various educational venues, visit www.plasticszone.com and click on the Education Zone.

MPI 4.0 is supported on AMD Athlon Windows-based PC workstations, Intel Pentium-based Windows PCs, and UNIX-based systems from Hewlett Packard, Sun, Silicon Graphics and IBM.