MOLDFLOW ANNOUNCES SOFTWARE PACKAGE TO SIMULATE AND OPTIMIZE GAS-ASSISTED
INJECTION MOLDING OPERATIONS.

(Shelton, Connecticut -- March 9, 1993) Moldflow has announced the latest
edition to its range of flow analysis programs, MF/Gas. The program is
designed to simulate and analyze the emerging technology of Gas Injection
Molding (GIM). By allowing engineers to easily determine the molding
performance of a design without building a prototype mold, the new
software package improves product performance, reduces scrap, shortens
design leadtimes and lowers design and manufacturing costs. The new
software package enables the analysis of component design and processing
conditions and the effects these have on product performance. Important
questions are answered, such as: How far and in which direction will the
gas flow? Will the gas blow through the polymer melt? What will the
residual wall thickness be? Are the polymer and gas being injected in the
optimum locations? The effects of design changes can be analyzed prior to
commencement of tool construction to avoid costly delays and re-work.

During the plastics filling stage, MF/Gas works in a similar manner to
MF/Flow, Moldflow's flow analysis package for conventional injection
molding. The new software graphically depicts the flow path from the gate
to the last point to be filled. The gas injection module takes over during
or at the end of the filling stage and determines the effect of gas
injection on product design. It provides a seamless analysis of the
filling and gas injection phases, and when a future release couples it
with Moldflow's thermal analysis program MF/COOL, will provide a fully
dynamic 3D analysis of the entire molding process from injection to
ejection.

Gas injection molding is a process which involves a controlled injection of
an inert gas into molten polymer. The gas creates hollow channels while
pushing the material that previously occupied the channel into the walls.
Generally, the channels are contained within larger-than-normal ribs. The
gas pressurizes the molding while it cools. The benefits of the process
include reducing warpage, residual stresses and sink marks. Any
conventional molding machine can be adapted for gas injection molding
using a portable conversion unit with gas connections to the mold.

MF/Gas was developed in conjunction with Cinpres, Ltd. who are the world
leaders in gas injection molding. The development has resulted from a
combination of the Cinpres processing expertise and Moldflow's expertise
in CAE and materials testing. Other Moldflow products include: MF/FLOW --
which predicts flow patterns and characteristics within the mold; MF/COOL
--- which analyzes the vital role of heat exchange and temperature control
in the mold; and MF/WARP software which analyzes the net distortion of the
actual molded part and helps determine its mechanical properties.

Moldflow, 2 Corporate Dr, Suite 232, Shelton, CT 06484
203-925-0552;  fax: 203-925-1175

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