Correlation of Warpage Predicted with Computer Simulation to Actual Warpage for a Glass-Reinforced Nylon Powertrain Part

The warpage of an injection molded 50% long glass (by wt.), nylon (PA66) composite part was studied experimentally and correlated to simulation. The simulation was performed using the Moldflow Fiber module, and Moldflow with empirical shrinkage coefficients. The results consisted of out-of-plane deflection on the mating surface and shrinkage between locations on the perimeter of the part. The results compared favorably to experimental results for the direction of warp. The effect of different packing phase parameters on warp was not predicted correctly. The predicted magnitude of warp varied greatly between the two computer programs.