CAE Mold Simulation Gains Enhancements.

The two leading suppliers of injection molding simulation software have new releases that boast improved functionality and ease of use. (See also p.63 for news of an impending merger between these firms.)

* Moldflow Corp., Lexington, Mass., has issued release 2.0 of Moldflow Plastics Xpert (MPX), an expert system for optimizing the molding process. Moldflow has moved the software to the popular Windows NT operating system and has added a simple touchscreen interface. Also new is a Design-to-Manufacturing link that allows MPX to import filling-analysis results from Moldflow's Part Adviser, Mold Adviser, and Plastics Insight.

* C-Mold, Louisville, Ky., is introducing C-Mold 2000.1 a new release of its high-end simulation package. The new version incorporates the recently introduced Design Optimization module (developed together with LG in South Korea), which recommends gate placement, runner sizing, and processing conditions. Also, the layer format of the Windows interface allows users to select the entities (element, node, nodal boundary condition, curve, surface, etc.) to be included on layers that can be toggled on and off. Users can also Specify display methods and color for each entity.