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SOLIDWORKS Plastics
SOLIDWORKS Plastics is a powerful injection moulding simulation solution that helps engineers predict and prevent manufacturing issues before parts reach production. By simulating how molten plastic flows, cools, and solidifies inside a mould, SOLIDWORKS Plastics allows teams to evaluate part manufacturability early in the design process. This helps engineers identify potential moulding defects and improve product quality before tooling is manufactured. Since the simulation environment is integrated directly within SOLIDWORKS Design, engineers can quickly test design changes and ensure plastic parts are optimised for production.
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What Is SOLIDWORKS Plastics?
SOLIDWORKS Plastics is a computer-aided engineering (CAE) simulation tool used to analyse and optimise plastic injection moulding processes during product development.
The software simulates the behaviour of molten plastic as it flows into mould cavities, allowing engineers to evaluate filling patterns, pressure distribution, cooling behaviour, and material shrinkage. These insights help teams identify manufacturing issues early and refine part and mould designs before production begins.
SOLIDWORKS Plastics runs directly inside the SOLIDWORKS environment, allowing engineers and mould designers to analyse manufacturing performance without leaving the CAD workflow.
Key capabilities include
Injection moulding flow simulation
Detection of moulding defects before tooling
Analysis of mould feed systems and gate locations
Cooling performance evaluation
Warpage prediction for moulded parts
Benefits of SOLIDWORKS Plastics
SOLIDWORKS Plastics enables engineering teams to design plastic parts that are easier to manufacture while reducing risk during production.
Key points:
- Predict weld lines, air traps and short shots
- Analyse material flow through mould cavities
- Identify areas prone to sink marks
- Improve confidence before mould tooling is created
Key points:
- Evaluate gate placement and runner systems
- Analyse wall thickness and material distribution
- Improve mould filling behaviour
- Support better design decisions earlier in development
Key points:
- Reduce design iteration cycles
- Minimise mould redesign during production
- Accelerate design-to-manufacturing workflows
- Improve overall product development efficiency
SOLIDWORKS Plastics Capabilities
SOLIDWORKS Plastics provides engineers with specialised simulation tools to evaluate injection moulding behaviour and refine designs before manufacturing begins.
Injection Mould Filling Analysis
SOLIDWORKS Plastics simulates how molten plastic fills a mould cavity, allowing engineers to understand flow behaviour and identify areas where defects may occur.
Key points
Visualise mould filling patterns
Evaluate pressure distribution during injection
Detect air traps and weld lines
Identify incomplete filling areas
Packing and Shrinkage Analysis
During the packing stage of injection moulding, material behaviour influences part quality and dimensional stability.
Key points
Analyse material shrinkage during cooling
Evaluate pressure changes within the mould
Reduce risk of sink marks and internal voids
Improve final part integrity
Cooling System Evaluation
Cooling performance plays a major role in production efficiency and part quality.
Key points
Analyse cooling channel effectiveness
Identify uneven temperature distribution
Improve thermal management of moulds
Support more stable production cycles
Warpage Prediction
SOLIDWORKS Plastics predicts how plastic parts may deform during cooling and ejection from the mould.
Key points
Identify deformation caused by uneven shrinkage
Evaluate thermal stress effects
Improve dimensional accuracy of moulded parts
Reduce downstream quality issues
Mould Feed System Analysis
The software helps engineers evaluate how runners, gates, and sprues influence material flow through the mould.
Key points
Analyse runner and gate layouts
Improve material distribution across cavities
Evaluate multi-cavity mould behaviour
Support more efficient mould designs
SOLIDWORKS Plastics Packages
SOLIDWORKS Plastics is available in three package levels designed to support increasing levels of injection moulding simulation.
SOLIDWORKS Plastics Standard
- Fill Time Analysis
- Fill Pattern Simulation
- Part Warpage Analysis
- Runner-Balancing Analysis
- Gate Location Optimisation
- Cooling Time Analysis
- Mold-Filling Simulation
- Sink Marks Analysis
- Shot Size Estimation
- Mesh Controls
SOLIDWORKS Plastics Professional
- All features of SOLIDWORKS Plastics Standard
- Fiber Orientation Analysis
- Advanced Meshing Controls
- Multiple Cavity and Insert Molding
- Warpage Optimisation
- Predictive Engineering Database
- Valve Gate and Hot Runner Balancing
- Cooling Channel Design
- Overmolding Simulation
- Process-Induced Residual Stress Analysis
SOLIDWORKS Plastics Premium
- All features of SOLIDWORKS Simulation Professional
- Dynamic Analysis (Time-Based Motion)
- Composite Material Analysis
- Fluid Flow Analysis
- Thermal-Fluid Coupling
- Enhanced Optimisation Studies
- Electromagnetic Analysis (Electromagnetic Interference)
- Topology Study for Shape Optimisation
- Parametric Study for Design Evaluation
- Comprehensive Fatigue Analysis
Request a SOLIDWORKS Plastics Quote
If you are evaluating SOLIDWORKS Plastics for injection moulding simulation, MECAD Systems can help you identify the right package and implementation strategy for your organisation.
Our specialists will work with you to understand your product design workflow and manufacturing requirements to ensure you implement the most effective solution.
Request a quote to:
- Explore SOLIDWORKS Plastics capabilities
- Identify the right simulation package
- Discuss licensing options
- Receive guidance from SOLIDWORKS specialists
Frequently Asked Questions about SOLIDWORKS Plastics
SOLIDWORKS Plastics is a powerful injection moulding simulation software fully integrated within the SOLIDWORKS CAD environment. It enables engineers and designers to predict how melted plastic will flow during the injection moulding process, allowing for the identification and mitigation of potential manufacturing defects such as weld lines, air traps, short shots, and sink marks. By simulating the filling, packing, and cooling phases, users can optimise part and mould designs, reducing the need for costly physical prototypes and minimising time-to-market.
SOLIDWORKS Plastics offers a range of analysis capabilities, including:
- Fill Analysis: Simulates the flow of molten plastic into the mould cavity to predict potential issues like short shots and weld lines.
- Pack Analysis: Evaluates the packing phase to ensure uniform pressure distribution, reducing the likelihood of sink marks and voids.
- Cooling Analysis: Assesses the efficiency of cooling systems, helping to minimise cycle times and prevent warpage.
- Warp Analysis: Predicts part deformation due to residual stresses, enabling design adjustments to maintain dimensional accuracy.
These analyses provide comprehensive insights into the moulding process, facilitating the production of high-quality plastic parts.
By identifying potential defects and optimisation opportunities early in the design phase, SOLIDWORKS Plastics allows for:
- Reduction in Physical Prototypes: Virtual simulations decrease the need for multiple physical prototypes, saving material and labour costs.
- Optimised Cycle Times: Efficient cooling and packing analyses lead to shorter production cycles, increasing throughput.
- Material Savings: Accurate simulations help in determining the optimal amount of material required, reducing waste.
These factors contribute to a more cost-effective and streamlined manufacturing process.
SOLIDWORKS Plastics is beneficial for:
- Product Designers: To ensure that plastic parts are designed for manufacturability and meet quality standards.
- Mould Designers: To optimise mould designs, ensuring efficient filling and cooling, and reducing the risk of defects.
- Manufacturing Engineers: To validate and improve the injection moulding process, leading to higher productivity and reduced costs.
By providing actionable insights throughout the design and manufacturing stages, SOLIDWORKS Plastics enhances collaboration and product quality.
SOLIDWORKS Plastics is available in three packages:
- Plastics Standard: Geared towards part designers, it allows for analysis of plastic part manufacturability and identification of potential defects during the design phase.
- Plastics Professional: Includes all Standard features and adds tools for mould designers to analyse and optimise single and multi-cavity mould layouts, including sprues, runners, and gates.
- Plastics Premium: Builds upon Professional by incorporating advanced cooling and warp analysis capabilities, enabling comprehensive simulation of the entire moulding process.
Each package is tailored to meet the specific needs of different roles within the product development and manufacturing process.
How MECAD Systems Can Help
Get Started With SOLIDWORKS Plastics
SOLIDWORKS Plastics helps engineers evaluate injection moulding performance during product design, allowing teams to develop plastic components that are ready for manufacturing.
Contact MECAD Systems to learn how SOLIDWORKS Plastics can support your product development workflow.