I also applied a symmetry restrain on the long, cut face of the spoon and the corresponding block being used to push down on the spoon. For the initial Linear Static analysis of the spoon without the underside rib, I apply a fixed boundary condition at the handle end. Now that I have answered the preliminary questions, I proceed to set up the analysis. As for simplifying the analysis, I chose to use symmetry and analyze one half of the spoon, split along the length, to reduce the size of the problem and speed up the solve time. For the FEA studies, I obtained a material model for a Polypropylene resin with a stress-strain curve, another of the commonly used materials for plastic utensils. In the Plastics analysis blog I used a Polystyrene resin for the injection material. In the Finite Element Models, I will add a fixture to last two inches of the spoon handle. In considering how the spoon is held, most of the handle would be clasped in a persons’ hand or between their fingers. On a hot summer day, I can imagine some people eating a single scoop in six bites, maybe less if the person can handle brain freeze! That determines the force I will apply to the spoon. Finally, I want to get to my FEA “answers” as quickly and efficiently as possible, so I need to consider how to simplify the model.īased upon several internet searches, a recommended serving size of ice cream is three ounces. I also need to look at how the spoon is held which will determine required fixtures and find a material data sheet that includes a stress-strain curve. I need to determine what a serving size of ice cream is so I know how much force to apply. There are several items to be addressed before I begin the Finite Element Analysis setup. But what role does the rib have for structural performance? Is the rib necessary when I consider the loading conditions that the spoon will encounter? With SOLIDWORKS Simulation Premium, I can answer those questions! In the SOLIDWORKS Plastics blog, I showed that the thick rib on the underside of the spoon handle played a significant role in reducing the maximum injection pressure required to mold the spoon. In this installment, I will use SOLIDWORKS Simulation Premium to solve Finite Element Analysis studies and compare the spoon design with and without the underside rib. The second ice cream spoon blog discussed using SOLIDWORKS Plastics to analyze the injection molding of the ice cream spoon.

The first ice cream spoon blog discussed Surface Modeling techniques to create the spoon design. I’ve previously blogged about the ice cream spoon, but when I wrote those articles the weather was more suited for eating ice cream! Personally, I like ice cream year-round, but some people choose warmer desserts when the winter months set in.

Solidworks 2019 modeling ice cream