Enhanced In-Mold Decoration (IMD) Simulation

If you need a process that enables you to finish your injection molded parts with a foil or a coating, then foil back molding is a proven process. This can be simulated in no time with Moldex3D and the corresponding analyses can be carried out …

The printing technology is widely applied in multiple industries. Apart from general paper printing, it is utilized in the manufacturing of laptop shells, mobile phone panels, circuit boards, LCD panels, automotive dashboards and daily necessities. The materials for printing include plastics, metal, glass and ceramics. In the past plastic product manufacturing, secondary processing such as plating, spraying and printing are required. Along with the increasing market demands in recent years, In-Mold Decoration (IMD), has been developed. This technology combines printing and injection molding, enabling the injection molded parts to be resistant to friction, scratch and corrosion. Furthermore, IMD products will possess exquisite colors and aesthetics.

Two common manufacturing issues of IMD process are ink washout at filling stage and product warpage or distortion due to uneven cooling at cooling stage. Thus, it usually requires many design iterations and would be time-consuming.

To solve the above problems, users can predict the in-mold dynamics through CAE simulation tools and optimize the product design according the analysis results. In order to attain more accurate in-mold decoration simulation results, Moldex3D has strengthened its capabilities in the latest version pf the software. It can now attain more accurate simulation result of the in-mold thin film temperature distribution, and then simulate the filling temperature and velocity vector field. It can also predict ink washout based on the product’s geometric properties. By analyzing the temperature field of IMD process, users are able to attain a better understanding of the mold temperature changes, cooling and volumetric shrinkage behaviors. According to these analysis results, users can then reduce product warpage and molding defects, and furthermore optimize product designs. In addition, Moldex3D exclusively supports boundary condition options in pre-processing procedure. It enables users to efficiently and easily process the mesh layer of decorative pieces. Also, the new “Wash-out Index” feature enables product designers to accurately predict washout and ensures high-quality IMD products.

It worthwhile to find out more! Please feel free to contact us at 0241 565 276-0 or send an e-mail to sales@simpatec.com.