They can be located at different locations on the part depending on various designs and design specifications. Different gating designs have different influences on the final part s quality and finish. Virtual prototyping allows the parameters of the process to be easily changed to determine the optimal set of parameters. In an example the number of gates in processing a plastic keyboard cover was changed from 3 to 2. The first characteristic to be compared was the amount of time it would take to fill the mold cavity.
Proper flow is important because it ensures a better filling pattern.
Faster filling time puts more orientation of the surface polymers, and minimizes orientation in the core of the part. Fill time also affects melt temperature and pressure throughout the cavity.