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Mold Flow Analysis Report — How to Read It as a Buyer

A Mold Flow analysis (MFA) report is valuable — but only if you know how to read it. This guide teaches you to scan a report in 5 minutes.

Why MFA Matters

MFA simulates fill, predicts defects before steel is cut, and validates gate location and cooling. A proper study reduces tryout iterations by 50-70%.

Key Sections

1. Fill Pattern

Good: Uniform color gradient from gate to last fill
Concern: Racetracking or hesitation
Red flag: Large unfilled areas requiring high pressure

2. Pressure Distribution

Drop	Assessment
< 40 MPa	Excellent
40-80 MPa	Acceptable
80-120 MPa	Concerning
> 120 MPa	High risk

3. Weld Lines

Meeting angles >135° = strong weld; <90° = weak, visible line.

4. Air Traps

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5. Cooling Analysis

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6. Sink Index

Buyer\'s Tip: Do not accept screenshot-only reports. Ask for annotations on fill time, pressure, weld lines, air traps, cooling variation, and sink index. If the supplier used the default material database instead of calibrated data from your specific grade, the report is meaningless.

Red Flags

Default material database (not your specific grade)
No gate location optimization
Missing weld line analysis
Perfect results = wrong parameters
No cooling analysis
No process window recommendation

What This Means for Your Project: MFA costs ¥3,000-10,000 from Chinese suppliers (often included in mold price). Request pre-MFA review before mold design is finalized — changes are free at this stage. For multi-cavity molds, family molds, or parts with extreme aspect ratios, MFA is essential insurance.

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