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 (shrink sleeve)" process.

Download B-SIM information literature (PDF format, 600 kB).

	Why simulation ? Features of B-SIM Success story Material Solver Results	Example: Extrusion blow molding (courtesy of Dr. Peter Gust, Reinold Hagen Stiftung, Germany)
Image pre-distortion Customer support Recommended hardware B-SIM tutorial online B-SIM reference guide

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
• Get optimum thickness distribution on final product via ideal thickness settings on the preform or parison
• Get optimum thickness distribution on final product via ideal temperature settings on the preform or parison
• Design pre-distorted images for "sleeve shrinkage (shrink sleeve)" process (example - UMH, France)

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, ...
• Imports general 3D molds from IGES, VDA-FS via stereolithographic STL file, DXF or 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 as examples 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

• 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 available
• Fast contact analysis
• Solving a set of blow molding problems in a batch mode. This enables automatic case study solution

Results

• 3D color maps of thickness, temperature, stress, extension, 3D cuts
• Investigate contact between plastic material and molds
• Easy refinement of the grid in 3D areas of interest directly 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
• Cooling calculation
• Critical venting areas analysis
• Position tracking
• Part weight calculation

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

• Prediction of printed image deformation , mainly for "sleeve shrinkage (sleeve shrink)" 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 at Reference - Images
• Some links to Internet pages dealing about "sleeve shrinkage" process :
  Link #1: "Clearly classy labeling"
  Link #2: "Eggsactly what was required"
  Link #3: "Shrink sleeves provide package flexibility "
  Link #4: "Shrink-Label Adhesive Allows ..."
  Link #5: "Sleeved jar is 'uncommonly good'"

Customer support

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

Recommended hardware

• B-SIM delivers peak performance on a multiprocessor Intel or AMD-based PC with 512 MB RAM. B-SIM runs on Microsoft Windows 2000 / Windows XP. Starting with versions 4.4 / 2.4, we no longer support Windows 9x / Me / NT.

B-SIM tutorial online

• Click here to open B-SIM Tutorial Online with more information about B-SIM and with simulation examples.