ALGOR’S NEW FEATURE SUPPRESSION CONTROL REDUCES ANALYSIS TIMES FOR CAD SOLID MODELS

Features in this Solid Edge grinder assembly were suppressed in order to create an FEA model with fewer elements. The top image shows the original assembly. The image to the right shows the assembly with 5% feature suppression. The bottom image shows the model with 10% feature suppression. Note that the "Algor Feature Suppression" window lists all assembly features and marks suppressed features with the symbol. All SolidEdge trademarks may be trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective owners

PITTSBURGH, PA – June 6, 2000 – Algor, Inc., a leading maker of software for mechanical engineers, today announced the release of a new feature suppression tool that enables engineers to selectively modify the geometry in CAD solid models by removing insignificant features. Included with Algor’s entire family of InCAD products for seamless CAD/CAE interoperability, the feature suppression tool gives engineers the ability to speed up run times in finite element analysis (FEA).

"Algor’s feature suppression utility gives engineers complete control over the level of suppression utilized and lets them immediately see the resulting model," said Michael L. Bussler, president of Pittsburgh-based Algor. "This feature distinguishes Algor software from the competition because other software programs often practice indiscriminate suppression, which denies the engineer control over which features will be maintained in the FEA model and then doesn’t display the modified mesh. With Algor, the engineer chooses the level of detail in the CAD solid model and the software ensures that the mesh size preserves the features the engineer wants to keep."

A high level of detail in a CAD solid part or assembly can produce an unnecessarily large number of elements in complex models, increasing analysis run times. Often, this level of detail is not necessary for engineering purposes. Removing small features that are not essential for the analysis is a useful technique for reducing the number of elements in a CAD solid model. 

Accessed from within popular CAD solid modelers, such as CADKEY, Mechanical Desktop, Pro/ENGINEER for Windows, Solid Edge or SolidWorks, and soon, Inventor, Algor’s feature suppression window lists each feature of the model in a tree view. Engineers can apply different levels of feature suppression to an entire part or assembly by simply clicking on the part or assembly in the tree and moving a slider to increase or decrease the level of feature suppression. The software determines which features to suppress based on the geometry of the model and the specified level of suppression. In addition, Algor software identifies the features chosen for suppression so engineers quickly see which features are to be suppressed before they are actually removed.

Algor customers with current InCAD^Plus or InCAD Design Pak technical support and maintenance agreements can request a software update, including the new feature suppression capabilities through Algor’s web sites (www.algor.com and www.feaincad.com) or an Algor account representative. All of Algor’s software product line is available for the Windows 95, 98, NT and 2000 operating systems.

Algor has been a leader in the engineering software industry since introducing FEA for PCs in 1984 and interfacing with CAD systems in 1985. The company provides innovative, affordable and easy-to-use software products that have enabled 20,000 engineers in 60 countries to create safe, efficient, cost-effective designs. Algor also offers superior educational support and customer service that includes the use of state-of-the-art Internet audio/video technology for "Web Courses," which provide step-by-step software instruction, and free public "Webcasts" in live demonstration format.

Algor’s product line features FEA-based Accupak/VE Mechanical Event Simulation software. Accupak/VE reduces the need for physical prototyping and eliminates the need to input dynamic loads by determining the motion, flexing and resulting stresses of a part or assembly at each instant of an event. Algor’s proprietary kinematic element technology makes performing Mechanical Event Simulations using CAD solid parts and assemblies practical for realistic, accurate results. Engineers can use Algor’s InCAD^Plus and InCAD DesignPak products to seamlessly capture exact CAD geometry from popular CAD systems within Algor. The company also offers linear stress, vibration, heat transfer, electrostatic, fluid flow, composite materials and piping systems analysis tools. Algor’s software interchanges data with products from ANSYS, Inc. (Nasdaq:ANSS), Autodesk, Inc. (Nasdaq:ADSK), CADKEY Corporation, MSC.Software Corporation (NYSE:MNS), Parametric Technology Corporation, Structural Dynamics Research Corporation, Unigraphics Solutions, Inc. (NYSE:UGS), SolidWorks Corporation, a Dassault Systemes S.A. (Nasdaq:DASTY) company, and others.