Simulation Glass Pressing

NOGRID's glass pressing simulation enables in-depth analysis and optimization of the glass pressing process. This method is used to manufacture a wide variety of products, including lenses, dishes, ashtrays, drinking glasses, bowls, sinks, bottles, and containers (using the press- and blow process).

The market constantly demands thinner container walls, lighter objects and improved surface textures making glass production far more complex than the seemingly simple nature of the final products suggests.

NOGRID points meshless CFD software has been used successfully for the improvement of the glass pressing process for many years. The combination of free surface deformation under the combined effect of

• the motion of different solid devices (molds, plunger, etc.),
• gravity,
• the cooling process (mainly due to the heat exchange with the mold and the plunger),
• the mechanical and thermal detection of the contact between the deforming glass and the moving parts

create a better understanding of the mechanism of the glass pressing process. This better understanding quickly leads to tremendous savings in manufacturing costs and time while ensuring a final product of high quality.

Glass pressing is likely the application with the highest degree of deformation. As shown in Figure 4, the process starts with a spherical glass sample. During pressing, the solver automatically refines the point cloud wherever needed - typically in areas with extreme deformation or where the mold's fine geometric details demand higher resolution. Intelligent algorithms ensure that the grid is refined automatically, both in 2D and 3D, only where and when necessary throughout the simulation. This adaptive refinement is especially crucial when the final product includes intricate geometrical features.

Glass pressing is primarily constrained by two key factors. If the pressing time is too long, the cold mold or plunger can cause the glass flow to freeze or lead to the formation of chill ripples on the glass surface. Conversely, if the pressing time is too short, the plunger moves at a very high speed, whcih can result in the glass tearing apart.

Simulation of glass pressing with NOGRID points software

Our software can accurately predict these effects, supporting designers in developing optimal geometries for their molds and plungers. In addition to simulating the normal flow behavior based on Newton's  law of viscosity,  NOGRID points is also capable of handling non-Newtonian materials, including viscoelastic material behavior.

• computation is in full 3D solving complete Navier-Stokes-Equations
• easy and intuitive setup of the FSI (Fluid-Structure-Interaction) case
• free definable material properties by equations or curves
• moving parts with a lot of moving features
• open or closed domains including moving of additional parts
• including temperature computation of the solid molds

Follow this link to learn more about how simulation can help with the design of  pressed glass.