Run a Binder Sinter Analysis

Run a binder sintering analysis for the selcted print parts.

Before running a binder-sintering analysis, you must first select the parts to be printed, set up the oven, define the part orientation, and create setters.
  1. Click the button on the Analyze icon.
  2. Specify the process parameters.
  3. Click Run to begin the analysis.
    The run may take several minutes to several hours to complete, depending on the complexity of the model and the analysis settings. If the run is completed successfully, a green flag will appear over the Analyze icon. If unsuccessful, a red flag will appear instead.
  4. Click the green flag or double-click the run name in the Run Status window to view the results.
Tip:
  • Click on the Analyze icon to view the run status. Runs that are being processed or that have not been viewed are shown in the Run Status table.
  • Click on the Analyze icon to view the run history. Runs that have been viewed previously are shown in the Run History table.
  • The icon indicates that the run was incomplete. Some but not all of the result types may be available. You should run a new analysis to generate complete results.
  • To view multiple runs, hold the Ctrl key while selecting runs, then click the View Now button. If several runs are associated with the same part, the result from the most recently completed run for that part will be activated in the modeling window.
  • To open the directory where a run is stored, right-click the run name and select Open Run Folder.

Process Parameters

Process parameters impact what result types are available at the end of the simulation, as well as the processing time and accuracy of results.

Basic

Analysis Type
Choose between a shrinkage analysis or a compensation analysis. Compensation analyses will run several iterations to find the optimal compensation for expected deformation/densitization.
Note: A compensation analysis is required to use the Green Part tool.
Max Iterations
Enter the maximum number of iterations the solver will run. The default is 5.
Deviation Tolerance
Enter the limit of acceptable deviation. If the part’s deviation reaches this tolerance, the simulation will end. Deviation Tolerance only appears in compensation analyses.
Part Scale Factor
Scale the part’s dimensions to compensate for expected shrinkage.
Include Gravity Effects
Tell the solver whether to include gravity in its calculations. Gravity is included by default.
Stop Simulation After Maximum Densification
If this is checked, the solver will stop the simulation once the part has reached its maximum relative density.
Skip Temperature Calculation
If this box is checked, the solver assigns temperature based on the open curve. Otherwise the solver computes the temperature by solving the energy equation.
Oven Temperature
Set the oven’s temperature at specified time points, measured in seconds from the start of the simulation.

Advanced

Mesh
Set the mesh to fine, medium, or coarse, or define a custom mesh.
Time Step
Enter the duration of each time step in seconds.
Simulation Start Temperature
Set the temperature at which the simulation will begin. This combined with Simulation End Temperature allows you to run the analysis only on a select portion of the simulation.
Simulation End Temperature
Set the oven’s final temperature for the analysis. The solver takes the temperature curve into account and ends the analysis when the temperature is trending down.
Friction Coefficient
Defines the friction between the part and the build platform. This affects the part's deformation.
Stop simulation when there is contact
Enable this option to stop the simulation if the part deforms enough for it to come into contact with itself or the oven base.
Relaxation Parameters
These parameters control the compensation applied at each iteration during a compensation analysis. Enter a value between 0.1 and 10 to change the compensation factor in the simulation. Used only in a compensation analysis.
Compute Crack Analysis
Tell the solver to compute a cracking analysis. Use the fields to set the maximum allowable tensile and shear stress allowed within and between powder layers.
Compute Lift Analysis
Tell the solver to compute a lift analysis. The Lift Analysis Factor determines how much of the part’s surface that contacts the oven base will be fixed to the oven base. Enter a value between 0 and 1. A factor of 1 tells the solver to compute the minimum possible constraint. A factor of 0 effectively disables the lift analysis.