This presentation will focus on simulation techniques used to compare traditional hurling stick material and performance against a composite redesign. We used several Autodesk tools—including Fusion 360 software, Netfabb software, Moldflow, and Autodesk Nastran software—to evaluate and optimize the performance of the composite structure.

Have you attended our Autodesk University Factory Live Experience? Want to learn how we created some of the parts using Autodesk Fusion 360 software? In this session, the team that helped design the keypad for the Autodesk University Factory will walk through how Autodesk Simulation tools can help you along your design journey from concept to production. Learn if Fusion 360 injection molding simulation is right for you, or if you need Moldflow injection molding simulation to get your part production ready.

Selecting the correct injection molding simulation software can be challenging when designing plastic parts. This session will review the various Autodesk simulation tools available on the market today, including Fusion Injection Molding Simulation, Moldflow Adviser, and Moldflow Insight. This in-depth comparison will help you understand which injection molding simulation tool is right for your needs based on your objectives and desired outcomes.

Embark on an exciting journey into the world of creating a fully functional simulation racing steering wheel, using Autodesk Fusion capabilities: Design, electronics, simulation, and manufacturing—all within one seamless solution. Witness the collaborative efforts of global industry experts and suppliers as they bring this project to life. Join us and experience innovation in motion!

In this class, you will learn about products in the Autodesk Simulation Moldflow software ecosystem that can bring fantastic and unique capabilities to Moldflow products. We will introduce you to capabilities that can help make your job easier, better, and more fun. The class will cover several products, including Autodesk® Simulation 360 cloud-based software and the Autodesk® Inventor® Fusion Technology Preview, which is a free history-free modeler that you can use to make simple changes to existing CAD geometry. We will also cover the Autodesk® Simulation® DFM add-on, which is a designer tool that helps you develop a plastic part that follows standard plastic design rules and can help you avoid time-consuming iterations between the Moldflow user and the CAD designer. You will learn about Autodesk® PLM 360 cloud-based product lifecyle management and Autodesk® Vault, Autodesk® Showcase®, and Autodesk® Inventor® Publisher software. We will also examine Autodesk® Simulation Mechanical software and the tooling capabilities of Autodesk® Inventor® software. Finally, we will introduce you to the Project Simulus Technology Preview from Autodesk Labs.

This class will discuss the requirements and workflow for simulating flow imbalances in injection molding that are caused by shear heating in branched runner systems. Validation case studies will also include the MeltFlipper design, as well as in-cavity flow imbalances that lead to race-track effects. This class will focus on the use of the Autodesk Moldflow Insight software.

Valve gates are widely used in the plastics molding industry to enhance product quality by eliminating weld lines, reducing flow length, improving packing, and so on. However, the usage of conventional valve gates also brings challenges (including sudden changes in flow front speed and pressure shocks in hot runner systems, among others) that might adversely affect part quality. This class will introduce a new type of valve gate control technology—velocity-controlled valve gate—and we will highlight its benefits. The class will also showcase the newly developed capability in Simulation Moldflow Insight software of simulating the velocity-controlled valve gates.

To produce high-quality surface finishes for plastic parts with low production costs, automotive suppliers require flash heating of the mold. Induction heating uses high-frequency electricity to heat electrically conductive materials from within the mold. Autodesk, Inc., has teamed with RocTool (the foremost technology provider of induction heating equipment) to simulate this process. This presentation describes the theory, challenges, and 3D finite element solution of the Maxwell electromagnetic field equations. Finally an excellent correlation was achieved with validation data provided by RocTool.

As General Motors relies more on Autodesk® Simulation Moldflow® software for upfront design for manufacturability, it has become apparent that the capability to accurately predict location and relative quality of meld lines is essential to eliminate costly tool re-work—work that is necessary to resolve surface quality and/or part performance issues. A research project was initiated under the auspices of continuous improvement to study the effect of mesh density—relative to obstruction size—on the ability of Moldflow to accurately predict position, length, and quality of a meld line. This class will review the findings of this research by using case studies to illustrate the impact of poor meld-line predictions on tooling strategy and explain how these tooling decisions could have been avoided through meshing technique. Proper mesh density for the accurate prediction of meld-line location and quality will be the next best practice enhancement to the GM Moldflow Specification, GMW16355.

Different composite materials have been in used for many years in the automotive industry to create components that have unique characteristics, such as being strong and light. The trend in using composite materials is accelerating to meet lightweighting requirements to meet the next generation of fuel economy standards. An interesting lightweighting application combines the use of continuous fiber composite material with injection molding. The continuous fiber composite material forms a lightweight shell, while the necessary support structure can be created by overmolding it with a fiber-filled plastic. This so-called hybrid technique can create extremely lightweight strong parts that can be manufactured in large volumes. Autodesk® Simulation Moldflow® plastic injection molding simulation software can help with the design and engineering efforts for this process.

This class will review new functionality in Moldflow Insight software and discuss current research directions in the development of Moldflow Insight software. Capabilities covered will include multi-shot overmolding and mold cooling; composite overmolding; the effect of fiber orientation on viscosity; the effect of material degradation on viscosity; microcellular foaming; improved fiber orientation and fiber breakage calculations; and user routines for viscosity, core-shift and more. There will also be an update of research collaborations in the area of injection molding simulation research.

The University of Bradford has been using Autodesk Simulation Moldflow software for many years to investigate key injection-molding effects such as fiber orientation, residual stresses, warpage, post-injection product performance, heat transfer, and feature replication. This class builds on our Autodesk University 2011 class and covers the experimental and computational analysis of short- and -fiber reinforced components during injection molding, along with thermal investigations of the micromolding process.

Sometimes after optimizing a design for manufacturing, unexpected issues can occur. This was the situation with a recent case. An existing design had issues with excessive pressure, flash, and sink. The apparent root cause was a premature freeze off. Design iterations were analyzed and a particular option was used and was thought to have solved the issue. However, after the initial success the manufacturing process started to create cosmetic issues. Cosmetic defects can be much more challenging to troubleshoot. This presentation describes this case study, some old techniques, and recently added capabilities ( Moldflow Insight 2016 software), such as path lines.

In this class we will discuss the new capability to map fiber orientations and material properties from Simulation Moldflow software to structural finite element analysis (FEA). We will also cover how to use Simulation Composite Analysis software to simulate nonlinear material behavior of the fiber-filled material.

Do you use CAD models with Autodesk Moldflow products? If yes, then don't miss this class. We will discuss how to leverage Autodesk Inventor® Fusion technology as the front-end modeler and idealization tool for Autodesk Moldflow. We will show how to use Inventor Fusion to import CAD data, then edit and simplify it in preparation for Autodesk Moldflow simulation. We will discuss the techniques to simplify a part model and make design changes, such as modifying the part thickness and adding ribs, using Inventor Fusion. We will also discuss the alternative workflow of starting the simulation process in Autodesk Moldflow Insight, launching Inventor Fusion from Autodesk Moldflow Insight to modify geometry, and then rerunning the solver analysis in Autodesk Moldflow Insight.

A transformer's external insulation cover is an important part that has a significant influence in the transformer's security and reliability. During recent years these covers have been manufactured using traditional processes that do not incorporate much technology in the design process. However, we can use Simulation Moldflow software in a way that would enable us to optimize the process and the design of the cover, thereby achieving a suitable design that could still comply with the electrical isolation needs and mechanical and shape objectives, as well as reduce the current cost of the material and the process. In this class we'll explore how well the module correlates with real-world molded samples, we'll determine the most effective approach for using the thermoset module to optimize an electrical component, and we'll discuss any current solver limitations.

In this class we will introduce the basic concepts and principles behind the Application Programming Interface (API) and show how you can use it to enhance the capabilities of Moldflow Insight. The class will introduce the API functionality and conventions through a series of scripts that highlight common tasks completed with the API. Key areas covered will include creating custom plots and results, creating and examining mesh quality, exporting results, and interfacing with Microsoft Excel and Microsoft PowerPoint. The lab will consist of a mixture of lectures and hands-on exercises to ensure that both the theoretical and practical aspects of building API scripts are covered. No previous programming knowledge is required to take this lab.

The fiber orientation as a result of the injection molding process have a high impact on the mechanical behavior that the manufactured product will have. Using different material models will help in understanding the latest improvements on the fiber oreination prediction, and considerations that are needed in order to have a better performance. By having the link between rheology and structural simulations, the material properties can be related with the fiber orientation in order to have a mechanical model that can be closer to reality. Autodesk Helius makes this link and helps in bringing the reality to simulation.

This class will be a live demonstration of some tips and tricks for Moldflow experts. We'll look at using some scripts and API tools. We'll also look at the use of constraints post warpage.

In this session, you’ll have the opportunity to take the Moldflow Associate and Moldflow Professional level certifications. You will also have the opportunity to discuss your use of Moldflow software with expert Moldflow software trainers. Exams will be held Monday, November 14, in room San Polo 3405, Level 3, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.