Gate Placement

Introduction
Aim
Review gate placement guidelines
Run a gate location analysis
Why do it
Gate location can be very a critical factor in
overall part quality
Overview
Look at gate locations and influence on filling
Run a gate location analysis
Review results
Guidelines for Gate Placement
Place gates to achieve
filling that is
Balanced
Unidirectional
Place gates
In thicker areas
Far from thin areas
Against a wall to prevent
jetting
To prevent weld lines
from forming
In weak regions of the
part
Where they will be
visible
To prevent gas traps
Add gates to
Reduce fill pressure
Prevent overpacking
Gate placement
depends on
Type of tool 2 or 3
Plate
Runners Hot or
Cold
Gate Type Edge or
Sub
Tooling or Functional
restriction
Place Gate to Achieve Balanced
Filling
Very balanced fill
Unidirectional orientation,
possible packing variation

Mostly balanced fill
Radial orientation, possible
warpage due to orientation

Mostly balanced fill
Radial orientation, Large
weld line formed at near
EOF

Unbalanced fill
Weld line forms early,
Radial orientation

Gate in Thicker Areas
Helps pack the
thicker area better
Generally lowers
pressure to fill the part
The thick area is 5
mm the thin is 2 mm
Both parts are scaled
to the same range
Gate Far From Thin Areas
With significant changes in wall thickness
Avoid gating close to thin areas
Polymers favor the path of least resistance
Difficult to filling the thin feature
If at all
Gate near rib
Gate far from rib
Short shot
Place Gates to Achieve
Unidirectional Filling
Place gates to achieve unidirectional flow
Molecular orientation consistent across the
part
Reducing warpage
Best for long narrow parts
Possible disadvantages
Non-uniform packing
Higher fill pressures

Add Gates to Reduce Pressure
With long flow
lengths
Fill pressures may
be too high
Add gates
Maintaining balance
Shorter flow length
To reduce pressure
Prevent Overpacking by Adding
Gates
Center gate over
packs center rib
Two gates prevents
center rib over pack
Volumetric
shrinkage more
uniform
Center gate, overpacked rib
Two gates, more
uniform packing


Gate Location Analysis
Analysis considers
Processability
Is it possible to produce a part at this location
Minimum Pressure
Produces lower shear rate and shear stress levels
Geometric Resistance
Where would gating not cause overpacking
Thickness
Is it possible to pack the part effectively at this
location?
Gate Location Process Settings
Normally the default process settings can
be used
Optional settings include
Molding machine
Advanced options
Maximum injection pressure
Maximum clamp force
Looking at the Results
Analysis is a one + one technique
If no gate is specified
The best single gate is determined
With a gate(s) specified
Next best location determined
Looking at the Results
Screen Output file or Results Summary
Maximum clamp force
Maximum injection pressure
Recommended gate location at node number
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Gate Location Analysis
Version: mpi600 (Build 05512)
Analysis running on host: MF-JAY
Operating System: Windows XP Service Pack 2
Processor type: GenuineIntel x86 Family 15 Model 2 Stepping 9 ~3192 MHz
Number of Processors: 2
Total Physical Memory: 1022 MBytes

Maximum design clamp force = 5600.18 tonne
Maximum design injection pressure = 144.00 MPa
Recommended gate location(s) are:
Near node = 1845
Execution time
Analysis commenced at Sun Jan 15 10:15:14 2006
Analysis completed at Sun Jan 15 10:16:04 2006
CPU time used 48.17 s
Setting a Gate Location Based on
Results
In Log find Gate node
Query Entities
Ctrl+Q or Modeling Query Entities
Enter Nnode number
N1845
Place on a diagnostics layer
Display queried entities layer
Toggle other layers on and off as needed
Click the injection locations icon
Select the node
Create Copy if prompted
Recommended gate location(s) are:
Near node = 1845
Setting a Gate Location Based on
Results
Open second window of
the part
Arrange windows
Lock Views
Use gate location results
as
guide for setting gate
location
Scale or query results if
necessary
Gate Location Validation Fast Fill
Analysis
Non-Newtonian
Non-Isothermal
Incompressible
Results
Fill time
Pressures
Temperature
Time to Freeze
Air trap Weld
lines
QUESTIONS?