Detailed Specifications

Specific Capabilities

  • The incremental solution algorithm provides fast simulated filling. Problems with a few thousand degrees of freedom usually solve in seconds on current workstation.
  • The mold geometry may be a three-dimensional solid, a three-dimensional shell, or any combination of both. One-dimensional “channel” elements may be added to any geometry to simulate phenomena like systems of injection tubes or racetracking.
  • Multiple injection gates, vents, sensors, and inserts are allowed.
  • As the material data is assigned on element-by-element basis, non-uniform reinforcement and preform deformation may be included using additional code .
  • The user may control the simulation through a built-in programming language. The program can monitor the filling and provide on-the-fly control.
  • All solution data are available to the interpreter during the simulation, thus effectively simulating a large array of sensors. These “numerical” sensors can be used to design or verify mold filling control strategies, as gates and vents can be adjusted in response to signals sent by these sensors.
  • Dry spot prediction is available.
  • Script based tools to model fiber tow saturation are available.
  • Script Based tools to model transient resin viscosity variations are available.
  • Output of the results is available at any time during execution of the program. Both the overall snapshot in any given instant, and the transient tracking of individual values is supported.
  • On 32-bit Windows platform, dynamic link libraries are provided for other programs to run and control LIMS simulation and exchange data with the simulation in efficient manner. Interface to Labview and Matlab has been implemented by the University of Delaware.
  • Graphical user interface (LimsUI) is available. It is tailored toward the specific needs of injection molding simulation. It facilitates modifications of preform properties, generation of additional race-tracking and distribution media geometry, execution of filling simulation(s) and the display of results.
  • Input files can be prepared in GMSH, I-DEAS or any program that supports export to ABACUS input file. External file converters are available for other Output is available through its graphical user interface, GMSH or TECPLOT package

System Requirements

Over years, LIMS program has been developed over multiple platforms. The simulation engine can be currently build for both 32-bit and 64-bit Windows and 32-bit or 64-bit LINUX and probably on other platforms as well. However, the graphical interface (LimsUI) is a 32-bit Windows application and the standard distribution (including the demo available on these pages ) is for the 32-bit Windows environment. While, in its days, any Windows system above Windows 95 and Windows NT 4 was used and the program should run on these platforms, currently the testing happens only on Windows 7 and Windows XP (32-bit).

Ports for UNIX workstations and 64-bit Windows simulation engine are available from the authors. The user interface runs in 64-bit Windows or, on LINUX, within Virtual Box with Windows. The system requirements will strongly depend on the type of application, but current workstation can handle most simulations easily.  As the program uses direct equation solver, memory requirements for large problems can be fairly steep and require 64-bit system.

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