Leveraging Advanced Technology to Solve High-Precision Manufacturing Challenges

For specialty engineering plastics with high reinforcement fiber content, controlling post-molding warpage and dimensional stability is a core challenge. Italian compounding leader LATI S.p.A. overcomes this by integrating Moldex3D simulation into a complete digital workflow — from material characterization to structural stress prediction.

Core 1: High-Precision Material Data

High glass-fiber (up to 50%) or carbon-fiber-reinforced plastics behave far more complexly than general-purpose plastics. Standard data cannot meet LATI’s strict tolerances (<0.05 mm).
To ensure accuracy, LATI sends new materials to Moldex3D labs for full characterization, obtaining:

• Rheology: viscosity vs. shear rate & temperature
• PVT: pressure-volume-temperature relationships
• Mechanical: tensile modulus, thermal expansion, etc. These digital material twins form the foundation for precise simulation.

Core 2: From Fiber Orientation to Structural Performance

LATI integrates molding simulation with anisotropic structural analysis:

• Predict fiber orientation in 3D using Moldex3D.
• Map orientation data into FEA models.
• Analyze anisotropic behavior, predicting strength, stiffness, and thermal expansion in real working conditions.

This enables accurate performance predictions before tool manufacturing, reducing risk and accelerating design decisions.

Application Example: Metal Replacement Success

In replacing a brass hot-water valve with 50% glass-fiber PPA:

• Moldex3D optimized gate design to control fiber flow and minimize warpage.
• Structural analysis verified deformation and thread integrity under heat and pressure.

The result: a lightweight plastic part matching brass in performance — proving simulation as LATI’s core technology engine for innovation and quality assurance.