B-SIM - Computer simulation of blow molding and sleeve shrinkage

B-SIM is a software package for simulation of blow molding. B-SIM predicts the final wall thickness distribution based on the specified processing parameters (the pressure level, the speed of tools, the parison / preform initial temperature distribution, etc). B-SIM also can predict image distortion and pre-distortion based on sleeve shrinkage process.

B-SIM

EXAMPLE

B-SIM used in the design of a water tank produced by extrusion blow molding
Extrusion blow molding
Courtesy of Dr. Peter Gust,
Reinold Hagen Stiftung,
Germany

Why simulate a blow molding process?

  • Reduce the design time for your products.
  • No need to perform expensive trial-and-error procedures.
  • Select an optimum design from many possible alternatives.
  • Obtain optimum thickness distribution on a final product via ideal thickness settings on the preform or parison.
  • Obtain optimum thickness distribution on a final product via ideal temperature settings on the preform or parison.
  • Design pre-distorted images for sleeve shrinkage process.

Features of B-SIM

  • Simulates extrusion blow molding from parison.
  • Simulates stretch blow molding from preform.
  • Time dependent deformation is described by viscoelastic K-BKZ model.
  • Three different damping functions for a better material data fit (strain hardening).
  • WLF temperature dependency.
  • Material database containing PE, PP, PET, PC, PMMA, etc.
  • Imports general 3D molds from IGES format, VDA-FS via stereolithographic STL file and Patran Neutral file.
  • All molds movable (up to 10 tools can be used in one simulation project).
  • Time dependent parison sagging included.
  • Friction between stretched plastic material and plug.
  • Heat transfer between material / molds and material / air.
  • User-friendly setup of technological parameters with graphic.
  • Windows context sensitive help, tutorials and hands-on examples.
  • OpenGL included, allowing dynamic image rotation, zooming and panning. This enables fast shading or wireframes and contact visualization options.
  • Easy, completely editable setup of B-SIM project for solver. Tight connection between initial project and result files.
  • Many typical blow molding problems solved and distributed on installation CD.

Material

  • B-SIM uses time dependent, viscoelastic K-BKZ model.
  • Data of frequently used polymers are available in the B-SIM material database.

Solver

  • Fast contact analysis.
  • Very fast iterative multithreaded solver gets use of parallel processing on PC with more than one processor.
  • Upper limit of sheet elements or mold elements is limited only by PC memory.
  • Solving a set of blow molding problems in a batch mode. This enables automatic case study solution.

Results

  • Investigate contact between plastic material and molds.
  • 3D color maps of thickness, temperature, stress, extension, 3D cuts.
  • Easy refinement of the grid in 3D areas of interest from the post-processing window.
  • Export results for structural analysis to Ansys, IGES, DXF, Cosmos/M or Patran files.
  • Interactive thickness / temperature / position information with a simple mouse click.
  • Export animation file to Microsoft Video Player format.
  • Critical venting areas analysis.
  • Part weight calculation.
  • Cooling calculation.
  • Position tracking.

Pre-distortion of images & sleeve shrinkage process (option)

  • Prediction of printed image deformation, mainly for sleeve shrinkage process.
    Shrink sleeve process
  • B-SIM is able to pre-distort images for printing them on the flat sheet or preform, so that once shrinked, the images appear true.
  • Image projection manager enables to projects multiple images (planar, cylindrical, spherical projection).
  • IGES entities polyline, line and arc can be projected, distorted / predistorted and exported back to IGES file.
  • 3D VRML models can be used too (especially for complicated 3D shapes with graphics, where common projection methods cannot work).
  • More information is placed at the reference manual.

Customer support

  • Support through Accuform representatives worldwide.
  • Export of internal B-SIM files for easy data exchange via Internet. This facilitates fast customer support worldwide.

Recommended hardware

  • B-SIM delivers peak performance on a multicore Intel or AMD based PC with 2 GB RAM.
  • B-SIM runs on Microsoft Windows 7/8/10 - 32/64 bit.

B-SIM tutorial online

  • Click here to open the B-SIM online tutorial with more information about B-SIM and with various simulation examples.