Virtual Mold and Process Development for Medical Parts
Simulation has established itself as an invaluable tool for design engineers in de- veloping new parts and deciding what materials to use in metalcasting or plastic- injection-molding manufacturing processes serving the medical device industry. In the past, such simulation tools were used by analysis groups and the operators of such tools were specialists who would “setup and run” simulations. Today, however, leading design and manufacturing engineers need to be able to provide answers to questions regarding all areas of the manufacturing process, requiring communica- tion between all members of the product development and production team, as well
Process simulation software is becoming an invaluable tool, from the design stage to the shop floor.
Mold temperature simulation result after several cycles superimposed on real mold.
as management and procurement. Conventional design simulation tools, however, do not cover the simulation of the manufacturing process.
Software Background Te MagmaSoſt Casting Process Simulation tool was introduced 23 years ago as
a simulation tool primarily for use by process engineers in metalcasting operations to move the trial-and-error process of finding optimum process parameter combi- nations from the manufacturing floor into the computer. Designers and analysts rec- ognized the benefits of using such process-chain integrated simulation tools, either by using it themselves or in collaboration with in-house manufacturing engineers or
54 Medical Manufacturing 2013 Christof Heisser
Matt Proske Sigma Plastic Services Inc. Schaumburg, IL
Eric Frearson
VP Engineering & China Operations Tessy Plastics Corp. Elbridge, NY