Autodesk® Moldflow® Insight 2012

AMI Getting Started Tutorial

Revision 1, 30 March 2012.

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Contents

Importing a model. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1Chapter 1

Model manipulation. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3Chapter 2

User interface—model pane. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5Chapter 3

User interface—toolbar. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7Chapter 4

User interface—project panel. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8Chapter 5

User interface—layers panel. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12Chapter 6

User interface—logs pane. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14Chapter 7

Tutorial review. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15Chapter 8

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1Importing a model

A model of the part needs to be imported into Autodesk Moldflow Insight for analysis. The modelis saved into a Project.

Autodesk Moldflow Insight needs a model to analyze.

A project is used to store studies. Each study is a version of the original imported modeland can be analyzed with different combinations of features, such as injection locations,processing parameters, runner/cooling configurations, material, analysis sequences, etc.Analysis results for a study are stored in separate files from the study and are linked tothe study in the project. You can generate a new study at any time by using File > SaveStudy As.For file management reasons, most users create a new project for each mold analyzed.

You will now create a new project and import a study into it.

Creating a new Project

1 Click (Get Started tab > Launch panel > New Project). The Create New Projectdialog appears.

The default file location for an Autodesk Moldflow Insight project is defined duringinstallation, but can be changed at any time from the Options dialog associated with

the green Moldflow M drop-down menu. Select the Directories tab of the dialog.If you want to create the project in a different location than the one shown in theProject directory textbox, click Browse and navigate to the required folder.

2 Enter Getting Started in the Project name text box.

Note that the Create in text box outlines the pathway to where the project will bestored, and that the new Project name you have entered is included in this description.Autodesk Moldflow Insight has created a subfolder called "Getting_Started" for thenew project.

3 Click OK.

A new project called Getting Started is created and opened in Autodesk MoldflowInsight.

Ensure the Tasks tab is selected. This is located at the top of the white Project panel onthe left hand side of the window. The Getting Started project you have just created isnow listed in this section.

You will now import a study into the project you have just created.

Importing a study

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1 Click (Home tab > Import panel > Import).2 Select the Files of type drop-down list. The list of file types directly supported is

shown. Select Study files (*.sdy).3 Navigate to the Tutorial folder where Autodesk Moldflow Insight is installed

(typically C:\Program Files\Autodesk\Moldflow Insight xxxx\tutorial).4 Click on the file tutorial_model.sdy and click Open.

The model is read in, and a new study is automatically created in the "GettingStarted" project. This is illustrated in the Project View pane.

5 Click (View tab > Navigate panelZoom). Click anywhere in the model displaypane and drag the cursor vertically up or down the screen to resize the model.

The imported study should appear as below:

NOTE: You import a model from outside Autodesk Moldflow Insight and storeit within a project as a study. Once it is stored within a project, you open the studyfrom within the project.

Click the Next topic link below to move on to the next task of the tutorial.

2 | Importing a model

2Model manipulation

In this task, we will look at the tools that are available to rotate and zoom in and out of sectionsof the model you opened in the previous task.

Ensure the model from the previous task is open.

1 Click (View tab > Navigate panel > Orbit).2 Click anywhere on the model and, with the left mouse button held down, move the

mouse. The model will pivot around a central point. This is useful when investigatingthe geometry of the part.

3 Using the ViewCube, click Front view to return the model to its original orientation.

Other views of the model can be quickly obtained by clicking on the five other sidesof the ViewCube.

4 This view can be adjusted by clicking (View tab > Navigate panel > Pan). Clickand drag on the model until it is in the desired position.

5 Click (View tab > Navigate panel > Zoom Window). Holding the left mouse buttondown, select the area around the top left hole in the model. The area you selected isnow expanded to fill the Model pane.

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6 Click (View tab > Navigate panel > Zoom). Click and drag down in the ModelDisplay panel, shrinking the image until the whole of the model is visible.

The model is now showing in the lower right hand section of the panel.

7 Rotate the model (see Step 1). The model moves around the center of the panel.

8 You can select the pivot point by clicking (View tab > Navigate panel >Center). Click on the upper right of the model and rotate the part again.

This feature is used to help investigate local conditions.

9 To return the model to its original condition, select Front View using theViewCube and then (View tab > Navigate panel > Zoom All).

Click the Next topic link below to move on to the next task of the tutorial.

4 | Model manipulation

3User interface—model pane

In this section, you will investigate the different sections of the Autodesk Moldflow Insight UserInterface.

The Autodesk Moldflow Insight user interface consists of five main sections:

1 Model pane2 Toolbar panel3 Project panel4 Layers panel5 Logs pane

Model pane

The Model pane is the largest section of the Autodesk Moldflow Insight window.

This pane displays a 3D representation of the active study. Animations of the moldingprocess and visual representations of the mold features (feed and cooling systems) canalso be presented in this pane.

There are tabs across the bottom of the Model pane. Each tab represents a different studythat is open in this session of the project. The active study has its tab to the front.

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There is also a default tab that links to the Discussion Group (File > Options > Internet> Automatically launch the Discussion Forum). The Discussion Group is a web pagedesigned for you to share your knowledge, learn tips and new features, and networkwith other users. The Discussion Group can also be accessed from the Autodeskwebsite (www.autodesk.com) support pages. To be able to use the Discussion Group,you need to register.

Click the Next topic link below to move on to the next task of the tutorial.

6 | User interface—model pane

4User interface—toolbar

Across the top of the screen is a panel where toolbars are displayed.

Toolbar Panel

Each toolbar can be 'displayed' or 'hidden'.

You will now examine the toolbar options available.

1 If not already open, open the tutorial_model.sdy file used previously.2 Click View > Toolbars from the menu.

The toolbars that are currently displayed are ticked.

3 If not already selected, tick the Modeling menu item.

The long Modeling toolbar is now displayed in your Toolbar panel. To accommodatethis toolbar, the Toolbar panel may have been automatically extended down thescreen.

4 Tick View > Toolbars > Modeling again. The toolbar will disappear, and the Toolbarpanel will return to its previous size.

To facilitate ease of use, toolbar features are grouped by functionality. For later tutorials,it is assumed that at least the Standard, Viewer, Animation, Results, and Viewpointtoolbars are selected.

Ensure these toolbars are ticked, and then click the Next topic link below to move onto the next task of the tutorial.

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5User interface—project panel

The Project panel displays information about the model that is being analyzed.

Ensure the study used in the previous task is open. Alternatively, opentutorial_model from the Getting Started project you created in the Importinga model tutorial.

The Project panel is located in the upper left of the Autodesk Moldflow Insightscreen.

If this panel is not displayed, it can be accessed by clicking (View tab > Windowspanel > User Interface) and checking Project and Study Tasks.

At the top of this panel are two tabs, the Tasks tab and the Tools tab.

The Tasks tab

8 | User interface—project panel

There are two sections to the Tasks tab

1 Project View pane

The Project View pane is the upper section of the Tasks tab. This is where thestudies in the current project are listed. The icons to the right of the study nameare analysis icons and these will be discussed in a later tutorial.

The pane you are displaying shows that the current project is Getting Startedand the only study currently available is tutorial_model (the study youoriginally imported).

2 Study Tasks pane

User interface—project panel | 9

The Study Tasks pane is the lower section of the Tasks tab and this is wheredetails about your active study are displayed. The status of the tasks requiredbefore analysis and the results generated are also shown.

1 From the Results section of the Study Tasks pane, tick Fill Time for a visualrepresentation of the time required to fill the mold.

2 Rotate the model to investigate this result.3 Experiment with the other analysis results that are available.

The Tools tab

The Tools tab is the second tab of the Project panel.

10 | User interface—project panel

Models usually require some manipulation of geometry or definition of featuresprior to analysis. The modeling dialogs open in the Tools tab.

1 Click (Home tab > Create panel > Mesh) to open the Mesh tab.

2 Click (Mesh tab > Mesh Diagnostics > Aspect Ratio). The Aspect RatioDiagnostic dialog opens in the Tools tab.

This feature is explained in the meshing tutorial.

3 Ensure the Minimum Input parameter is the default of 6.4 Tick the Place results in diagnostics layer option.5 Click Show.6 The lines that appear in the Model pane indicate the location of elements with

an aspect ratio greater than 6. The color of the line indicates the magnitude ofthe issue.

7 Rotate and zoom into sections of the model to investigate the elements with ahigh aspect ratio. We will revisit these results in the Layer panel task.

8 Right-click on the model and select Mesh Diagnostics to remove the lines.9 Return the model to its original orientation as outlined in the Model

manipulation task. Using the

ViewCube,select Front and then click (View tab > Navigate panel > Zoom All).

Click the Next topic link below to move on to the next task of the tutorial.

User interface—project panel | 11

6User interface—layers panel

Layers are an organizational tool that allow you to isolate components of your model. Theyassist in visualizing, manipulating, and editing your model more efficiently.

Layers Panel

The Layers Panel allows you to add, activate, delete, and modify the layers associatedwith your active model. Each layer can be displayed either individually or with otherlayers.

The Layers Panel is located in the bottom left of the Autodesk Moldflow Insight userinterface.

If this panel is not showing, click (View tab > Windows panel > User Interface)and select Layers from the drop-down menu.

Ensure the working model from the previous task is open. If this model is not open,click File > Import. Navigate to the Tutorial folder found typically atC:\Program Files\Autodesk\Moldflow Insight xxxx\tutorial, click tutorial_modeland click Open.

Although they are not displayed, there are two cooling channels and an injectionpoint defined in the model. Each of these features, along with the visible trianglesand nodes (to be explained in the Meshing tutorial), are represented by an entry inthe Layers Panel.

1 Experiment by ticking different check boxes in the Layers Panel and observingthe effect in the Model pane.

You may want to rotate the model to view the two cooling channels.

2 Tick Triangles in the Layers pane to return the model to its original form.

12 | User interface—layers panel

Click the Next topic link below to move on to the next task of the tutorial.

User interface—layers panel | 13

7User interface—logs pane

After an analysis has been run, the Logs pane is displayed at the bottom of the Model pane.

Logs Pane

The results of an analysis can be represented in several ways. You have already viewedthe graphical representation of Fill time and high Aspect Ratios. The numericalvalues of the available results are also of interest. An analysis overview is presentedin the Logs pane.

The Logs pane can be hidden or displayed at any time by ticking the Logs box inthe Study Tasks pane.

Ensure the model from the previous task is open. Alternatively, selecttutorial_model from the Getting Started project.

1 Select the Tasks tab from the top of the Project panel.2 Select the Logs box in the Study Tasks pane.3 Select the Analysis Log tab from the top of the Logspane.4 Scroll up and down the screen to view the output results.

Finally, you can generate customized reports that outline specific combinations offeatures required. This will be addressed in the Post-Processing tutorial.

Click the Next topic link below to move on to the next task of the tutorial.

14 | User interface—logs pane

8Tutorial review

This tutorial has given you an overview of the basic methods available to import, open, andinteract with a study.

You have:

■ Imported and manipulated a model■ Used the different sections of the Autodesk Moldflow Insight interface

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