InCAD Competitive Advantages
|
|
Questions to Ask When Choosing a CAD/CAE Solution |
|
|
|

InCAD technology provides the same interface and operations regardless of:
• the CAD solid modeler used;
• the locations of the CAD and FEA
software; and
• the analysis types needed.
|

Engineers can specify model mesh settings by simply choosing the mesh type and
using a sliding control to choose the mesh size.
|
|

The midplane mesh engine automatically heals gaps inherent in the
midplane extraction of thin solid geometry to plate and shell elements and
handles parts, assemblies, multi-thickness regions and mixed element type
models.
|

ALGOR’s InCAD technology provided direct CAD/CAE data exchange of this subsoiler assembly from Mechanical Desktop.
The model was analyzed using linear static stress analysis to optimize the thickness,
shape and material of the frame, hitch and hinge components to reduce high stresses.
Model courtesy of Unverferth Manufacturing Company, Inc.
|
Software support and service includes a technical service engineer assigned specifically to each
account.
|
ALGOR’s internationalized software includes support for six languages, including Chinese (simplified),
English, French, German, Italian and Spanish.
|
CAD Support
ALGOR’s complete product line supports direct CAD/CAE data exchange
of parts and assemblies from Alibre Design,
Autodesk Inventor, Inovate, IronCAD, KeyCreator, Mechanical Desktop, Pro/ENGINEER, Rhinoceros, Solid Edge and SolidWorks.
Through an industry-standard plug-in architecture, our
InCAD technology
provides full associativity with your
CAD package - allowing you to make iterative design changes without needing to redefine FEA loads, constraints
and other data.
Even when the CAD package resides on a separate computer, this unique technology can be used
for the same, fully associative interoperability.
Options are also available for importing 2- and 3-D geometry through CAD universal file formats including ACIS, IGES and STEP.
(See Looking for a Flexible FEA Tool for your Multi-CAD Environment?)
Easy-to-Use Graphical User Interface
ALGOR's FEMPRO is an easy-to-use, single user interface for finite element modeling, results evaluation and presentation.
FEMPRO features multiple view windows, a tree view of the model and associated data and Windows-native
data input screens with real-time data checking for reasonable input.
Analysis Extensibility
A wide range of analysis tools can be “plugged into” the same easy-to-use FEMPRO interface to achieve the same level of integration
and associativity.
Engineers can start with linear static stress, linear dynamics and heat transfer and then extend their analysis tools to
include Mechanical Event Simulation (MES), fluid flow, electrostatics and multiphysics.
MES combines motion and stress analysis and automatically calculates loads and timestepping based on physical data,
so engineers can set up fast, realistic simulations involving small- or large-scale motion and avoid making costly
and sometimes inaccurate assumptions.
Multiple Element Types
An element library including spring, rigid, 2-D, truss, beam, membrane, plate, shell, brick and tetrahedral elements
allows engineers to more accurately model designs, especially with the capability to combine solid elements with plates,
shells or beams. For example, when evaluating a pulley system, the cables should be meshed as beam elements
and the pulleys as bricks. In addition to modeling flexibility, often fewer elements are created when using multiple element types,
which allows models to be analyzed more quickly.
Automatic, Fast, Hex-Dominant Meshing
An automatic, hex-dominant hybrid solid meshing tool is used to produce higher quality elements on the first pass and
more accurate results.
Meshing capabilities also include automatic, intelligent, feature-based mesh refinement and point-and-click definition of
areas where a finer mesh is desired.
Engineers can specify model mesh settings by simply choosing the mesh type and using a sliding control to choose the mesh size
to ensure accuracy and optimize speed.
Midplane Mesh Engine for Modeling Thin-Walled Geometry
A midplane mesh engine helps engineers who regularly work with thin-walled geometry to accurately model these parts
and assemblies in less time. This tool automatically converts thin, solid geometry into plate or shell elements
with automatic handling of parts, assemblies, multi-thickness regions and mixed element type models.
It includes built-in gap healing where surfaces intersect.
Precision Finite Element Modeling Tools
Precision finite element modeling tools allow engineers to edit and enhance CAD geometry or
build 2- and 3-D geometry from scratch. Superdraw sketching tools include capabilities to draw points, lines, rectangles, arcs, circles, splines
and tangent lines and modify sketch objects with commands including copy,
divide, fillet, intersect, rotate, mirror, move, parallel, trim/extend and
delete. Using these tools, engineers can work directly on the model surface to manually refine the mesh or add beams, plates or other elements
to existing CAD solid models.
Plus, basic 3-D surfaces, 2-D models or beam-truss models can be modeled for use in first-pass or proof-of-concept analyses.
2-D Analysis
Engineers can perform 2-D analyses to validate both the model and analysis setup and get quick results using
built-in 2-D sketching, modeling and meshing tools.
Linear and Nonlinear Material Model Capabilities
Having both linear and nonlinear material models available allows engineers to better understand the real-world behavior
of parts by closely considering the actual material behavior.
If the typical behavior of a part causes its materials to extend beyond the linear range,
as with applications involving twisting, stretching, squashing and buckling, or if the engineer wants to learn
how the part will fail, the engineer can choose from a wide range of nonlinear material models for a more accurate analysis.
Material Library Manager for Managing Material Data
A wide variety of material models allows engineers to simulate a broad range of real-world material behavior.
Plus, engineers can apply material properties from a built-in library of common materials, including materials supplied by MatWeb,
an industry-leading resource for material property data.
Additionally, they can add, import, modify and delete material data within customized libraries using the Material Library Manager.
For example, users can import custom material properties from the MatWeb database of more than 42,000 materials.
Parallelized Processing to Reduce Solution Time
Available for all analysis types, fast solvers provide significantly faster processing times through new solver
technology that also utilizes the power of all available system processors to perform parallel solutions.
Built-In Report Wizard
A built-in, HTML-based Report Wizard is provided so engineers can document analysis results and present them to others.
The customized report can include images, animations and VRML files.
Flexible License Management
All ALGOR software supports LAN and WAN networked license sharing; enterprise-wide and remote-use licensing; and single,
node-locked licensing.
Customer Service
Software support and service includes a technical service
engineer and account manager assigned specifically to each account, online
customer account management tools, keystroke-specific tutorials, an accuracy
verification CD-ROM and process-oriented user documentation with every purchase;
Internet-based, streaming-video Webcasts for free software demonstrations;
in-depth distance learning Web Courses; e-mail news bulletins and frequent,
automatic software updates.
Internationalized Language Support
ALGOR software features internationalized language support allowing engineers to perform
FEA in any of six languages including Chinese (simplified), English, French, German, Italian and Spanish.
Working in the language of choice increases productivity and provides flexibility for sharing models and reports.
ALGOR's internationalized software includes:
the graphical user interface and user documentation in the language of choice;
automatic language detection based on Windows regional settings;
convenient selection of any language at any time;
available for virtually all analysis types;
and updates with ALGOR’s regular (quarterly) release schedule.
|