T-SIM - Computer simulation of thermoforming

T-SIM is a software package for simulation of thermoforming. T-SIM predicts the final wall thickness distribution based on the specified processing parameters (the pressure level, the speed of tools, the sheet temperature distribution etc.). T-SIM also can predict image distortion and pre-distortion.

Download T-SIM information literature (PDF format, 2.6 MB).

Why simulation ? Features of T-SIM Success story Material Solver Results Image pre-distortion Customer support Recommended hardware T-SIM tutorial online T-SIM reference guide	Example 1: Plug assisted thermoforming (courtesy of Manfred Jacob Kunststofftechnik GmbH & Co. KG, Germany)  Example 2: Web prediction (courtesy of Vyvaplast, Czech Republic) Download presentation (7 MBytes): Verification Analysis of a Plug Assist Thermoformed Part through Computer Simulation (courtesy of Tom Bush, Fabri-Kal Co., USA)

Why Simulate a Thermoforming 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 temperature settings on the sheet
• Design pre-distorted images for in-mold decoration process

Features of T-SIM

• Simulates positive / negative forming with / without plug assistance
• 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 sheet sagging included
• Friction between stretched plastic material and tools
• Heat transfer between material / tools 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 T-SIM project for solver. Tight connection between initial project and result files.
• Many typical thermoforming problems solved and distributed as examples on installation CD

Material

• T-SIM uses time dependent, viscoelastic K-BKZ model
• Data of frequently used polymers are available in the T-SIM material database
• Any material can be tested (cooperation with IKP Stuttgart, Germany, or DatapointLabs, USA) and its data imported into T-SIM

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 thermoforming 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
• Output to Patran format enables structural analysis and calculation of cooling
• Interactive thickness / temperature / position information with a simple mouse click
• Export animation file to Microsoft Video Player format
• Cooling calculation

Pre-distortion of images (option)

• Prediction of printed image deformation
• T-SIM is able to pre-distort images for printing them on the flat sheet, so that once thermoformed, the images appear true
• Image projection manager enables projection of multiple images using various projection methods (planar, cylindrical and spherical projection)
• IGES polylines can be projected, distorted / pre-distorted and exported back to IGES
• 3D VRML models can be also used for image pre-distortion
• For more information about image pre-distortion, go to Reference - Images.

Customer support

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

Recommended hardware

• T-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.

T-SIM users

• T-SIM is used by industry leaders worldwide at Boeing, DOW, Eastman, GE, Mitsubishi, MIT, BMW, Delphi Automotive, Riley Medical, Marconi Communications, PCM, Fabri-Kal, American Standard, IPS Polymer, Illig, Kiefel, Gabler and many other thermoformers

T-SIM tutorial online

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