DCS Workshops Teach Tolerance Analysis Skills - FEA and Modeling Tips

DCS Workshops at the DCS Global Technology Conference teach new users how to bring Finite Element Analysis into their tolerance analysis simulations and a series of tips, tools and tactics to improve modeling speed and efficiency.

From Tackling Tough Tolerance Analysis Scenarios - DCS Conference Day 3

DCS Workshops - Modeling Efficiencies and FEA Compliant Modeler

With the morning over, the room was re-formed into two smaller rooms to conduct the training workshops. There were two workshops in total, and all attendees were able to attend one, then the other.

FEA Compliant Modeler -

Finite Element Analysis + Tolerance Analysis

Click to View the FEA Compliant Modeler Workshop Video

The FEA Compliant Modeler workshop used 3DCS FEA Compliant Modeler, the add-on module that brings finite element analysis (FEA) into your tolerance analysis to account for flexible and compliant parts. The workshop was aimed at new users, and designed to teach the skills to help 3DCS users expand their ability to include this kind of advanced analysis.

As an introduction to FEA Compliant Modeler, the workshop began with a walk through of a completed model to show the difference between a rigid body model and a compliant model.

From here, the mesh files and use of an FEA solver was shown. 3DCS uses a mesh file from a CAE solver like Abaqus to map the material properties onto the CAD parts, linking the mesh nodes to 3DCS nodes on the part itself. This lets the software act on the individual nodes in order to deform the geometry.

After the initial demonstrations, Saurav Kakar, DCS FEA Specialist, showcase the different tools in 3DCS FEA Compliant Modeler that can be used in your models.

Agenda:

Specific Questions Q&A
Completed Model Demonstration - Compliant Moves and Components (Rear Fascia)
Open mesh file in Abaqus CAE
Walk through of the mesh file in Abaqus
Export Mesh file
Open Mesh File in notepad
Discussion about nodes and material property units
Apply Stiffgen to the model
Input FEA data to the move
Demonstrate the Point linking wizard.
Discussion about test moves in the model and how to test if the mesh file is working as desired
Gravity move (Summary to show value of gravitational force used in software)
Thermal move (Thermal file is created for 1 degree Celsius change of temperature and then multiplied by change in temperature input in the move)
T Matrix
Color Mapping

Click to View the FEA Compliant Modeler Workshop Video

Modeling Efficiencies - Model Faster and Easier

This workshop went through a variety of tolerance analysis tools, tips and strategies that can be used to make modeling faster, more efficient, and make updating the model later on a lot easier.

Click to View the Modeling Efficiencies Workshop Video

Beginning with setting up your model, there are a number of things you can do as a modeler early in the build process to make your overall modeling easier.

Setup

Tree structure
Scenes/Arrangements/Exploded Views
Alias Display
MTM Defaults

During the creation of Moves, Tolerances and Measures (MTM), as well as creating points, there are both tips and specific tools within 3DCS that speed things up and simplify later changes.

Point and MTM Creation

Fast point
Right-click Menu
Copying Data
Cloning
Process Capability Database
Extracting embedded CAD information
Mirror/Duplicate
Measure Generator

After your model is complete, it is important to double check your work. When running simulations, there are some tips that can get your results quickly, especially if you are running iterative design optimization. Finally, you'll want to modify your model, and quickly, and there are tools in place that can make this fast and easy.