Effective Methods for User-Defined Meshing in CST Microwave Studio A key benefit of CST Microwave Studio is the broad selection of high-frequency solvers. This includes two general-purpose base solvers, Time Domain and Frequency Domain, and two special-purpose solvers, Integral and Asymptotic. We will review user-defined meshing methods, best practices, and solver settings that affect mesh quality and solution convergence. We will also discuss how reproducing results in different domains and with different meshing techniques can greatly contribute to confidence in simulation results.

3DEXPERIENCE: A CAE PARADOX How I’ve Been Doing More Engineering with Less Work As a simulation engineer for a CAE consultant, I spend a lot of time in pre-/post- tools, and over the past year, 3DEXPERIENCE has become my tool of choice for simulation. In this talk, I’ll be demonstrating the variety of ways 3DEXPERIENCE has impressed me and allowed me to do FEA faster and easier than I was accustomed to when coming from other tools from both DS and competitors.

Presented by: Jim Reed Senior Electromagnetic Engineer

Presented by: Marcel Ingels CAE Project Engineer

The conference will provide attendees from around the world with the chance to:

• Watch Plenary, including keynotes and messaging from our 3DS executives
• View 70+ user and 3DS presentations
• Search and build your own agenda
• Talk with other attendees in chat rooms in specific domain of interests
• Engage with their local team at Regional User Meetings in your own language
• Tour the expo hall and visit Partners and 3DEXPERIENCE Playground
• Q&A
• Connect and network with other users
• Much more!

Registration links, agenda, and conference guide can be found on our event page.

As electric vehicles take over a larger share of the automotive market, OEMs and suppliers alike need to make use of every tool at their disposal to improve the performance of their vehicles. At present, no tool is more essential than CAE simulation when it comes to helping manufacturers test the design of EM components and how they contribute to the structure, efficiency, and performance of a vehicle.

While a lot of attention is often focused on battery performance in EVs, the electric drivetrain also presents completely new engineering challenges that require extensive simulation in order to understand how interconnecting systems affect each other. From our experience working in the automotive industry, we have identified six key areas where simulation helps EV engineers improve drivetrain performance. Let’s take a closer look.

1. NVH

Trust the Drive – Electric Drive Noise and Vibration Analysis
WATCH THE WEBINAR NOW

2. Electric Motor Performance

Electric vehicles have typically lagged behind those with internal combustion engines (ICEs) in terms of power and performance. This has been a barrier to wider adoption, as improvements in motor and transmission performance have come at a tradeoff to battery longevity. However, newer EV technologies have increased the efficiency of electric powertrains, allowing them to compete with and even outperform their ICE counterparts.

Multiphysics simulations have been integral to these improvements, and can help automotive manufacturers develop even better designs. This can be particularly important in optimizing motor efficiencies with gear ratios, to improve performance on highways or during uphill driving.

3. Thermal Management

Electric Drive Engineering
WATCH THE WEBINAR NOW

4. Lubrication

Electric vehicles require different lubricants than ICEs. Without fossil fuels and with fewer moving parts, these systems run cleaner, meaning the engine oils will collect fewer contaminants over time from burning fuel. However, EV motors operate at very high speeds, and still require both oil and coolant. And, while EV transmissions are different from ICEs, they do still require lubrication for the gear reducer.

Thus far, there is no one solution to which lubricants should be used for different EV transmissions. While some manufacturers use traditional transmission fluid, others are relying on grease bearings with oil lubricants. CFD simulation can help engineers understand which lubricants work best based on their design choices.

5. New Materials

WLTP and Lightweighting – Lighten the Burden of WLTP
WATCH THE WEBINAR NOW

6. Durability

The reputations of automotive manufacturers are made or broken on the reliability and longevity of their products. Premature failure of components leads to lost trust among consumers, as well as extra expenses for manufacturers in case of a large recall.

Using CAE simulation, engineers can create models to run fatigue tests and predict failure conditions for every component in the EV driveline. These simulations can help manufacturers determine repair schedules and write better warrantees for their vehicles.

CATI can support your simulation needs for electric vehicle drivetrains.

CATI offers CAE simulation support for OEMs and suppliers in two key ways. First, we are value-added resellers (VARs) of Dassault Systèmes software, including Abaqus, CST Studio Suite, CATIA, and SIMULIA. For manufacturers who hope to expand their CAE departments we offer support for using this software to set up custom workflows.

Second, as CAE and FEA consultants, we bring our multidisciplinary expertise to the table, helping our clients find solutions to complex problems. We can perform CAE simulations for our clients, increasing the capabilities for those who do not have CAE engineers on staff, and expanding the capacity for those who need extra assistance during peak production times.

If you are looking for a CAE partner to help test designs for EV components, contact us. We would love an opportunity to contribute our automotive expertise to your project.

Caelynx will be at this year’s major Dassault Systèmes SIMULIA/CATIA event, the 3DEXPERIENCE Modeling and Simulation Conference, held September 18-19 in Novi, MI!  Come network, hear the speakers, and learn what’s new in engineering simulation.  It will be an exciting two days!  For lots more details, follow the link:

https://caelynx.com/event/2019-3dexperience-modeling-and-simulation-conference/

Dassault Systèmes CATIA and SIMULIA (Abaqus, XFlow, CST Studio Suite, etc.) solutions are widely used in the tire industry to optimize tire performance, reduce costs and develop innovative products. The combination of design, PLM and simulation tools on the 3DEXPERIENCE platform means these solutions are even more powerful in combination, allowing advanced design and simulation workflows integrated over the entire tire design cycle.
This improves communication between design teams, making project data and specifications easily available to all, and allows multi-attribution optimization and decision making in order to achieve the best trade-off between the magic triangle and other variables. Cumulatively, this allows more verification cycles in same amount of time with higher confidence and increases the chances of passing SAE standards without test failures, cutting both cost and time-to-market.

Here are some of the powerful simulations that Abaqus, XFlow, PowerFlow, Simpack, and CST Studio Suite can provide in a highly efficient, unified 3DEXPERIENCE environment:

• Footprint, steady state rolling, braking, and cornering
• Impact and burst
• Hydroplaning and tire-snow interaction
• Wear/erosion
• Noise, vibration, and harshness
• Aerodynamic drag
• Vehicle dynamics
• Tire sensor design

Whitepaper: More Detailed Overview

Read more about the tools and technology employed in this comprehensive tire engineering workflow:

Webinar: See the Simulation Possibilities in Action

Watch a 40-minute in-depth webinar on this exciting topic here:

Webinar: Get a Close Look at Hydroplaning Simulation with SIMULIA

This 60-minute presentation shows, in detail, hydroplaning simulation with Abaqus and XFlow multiphysics:

We regularly employ SIMULIA’s multiphysics capabilities to produce accurate analyses, and beyond the usual structural stuff, CFD and vibration/acoustics are specialties of ours!  Our engineers’ talents are available to you as either your SIMULIA support team or engineering consultants.  Contact us to start a conversation and learn more about our engineering services.

Unlike VXmodel, Design X comes with it’s own CAD backbone. This means that the entire RE process is done within one single software. Here are some of the benefits of Design X.

1. Scan Directly Using Design X

As long as the Creaform VXelements software is on the computer, scanning can be done within Design X. A VXelements window will open allowing you to scan and edit the scan until it is accepted and then sent to Design X.

2. Auto-Segment Scan Regions

These segments are separated as planar, cylindrical, freeform, etc. surfaces. Planar faces can be used to create sketches. Extrusions can be sent up to these segments or offset from them. Surfaces can be created directly on the segments.

3. Extract Sketch Entities

Once a cross-section is created, sketch entities like lines, circles, slots, etc. can be created directly from the cross-section to more accurately RE the part in question. Dimensions can be added as well to lock them in at the desired size.

4. Easy Pipe Creation

Pipes can be difficult to RE. Unlike most other entities, they almost never extend along a linear path. This is not a problem with Design X. By selecting the segmented regions that make up the pipe, a 3D polyline can be created. This can then be used as a guide for a 3D spline to create the path of the sweep.

5. Accuracy Analyzer

In this case, the acceptable region is set to be within .25mm. The cause for the deviation is the axis used to create the main revolve feature. This tool allows you to verify the new part created before manufacturing it!

6. Transfer Options

VXmodel is somewhat limited in that it can only directly transfer data to the 3 above-mentioned CAD platforms. For all other platforms, the entities must be saved in an IGES or STEP file. Design X is not as limited. It can transfer to SOLIDWORKS, SolidEdge, and Inventor. But it can also transfer to NX, CATIA (V4 or V5), Creo, and AutoCAD! You are also given the option of how much you want to transfer. If all you need is a ‘dumb” solid body, then only send that! If you need the full feature tree, then send it all!

All in all, Geomagic Design X is a GREAT tool for reverse engineering. I enjoy using it and by timing myself, I’ve found that especially on complicated projects it can save quite a bit of time!

For any and all other questions regarding Geomagic Design X or Creaform 3D scanners, contact Computer Aided Technology to get in contact with one of our local 3D scanning experts!

Chad Whitbeck
CATI Reverse Engineering Specialist
Computer Aided Technology, LLC

If you have done any research, watched promotional videos, or listened to anyone talk about 3DEXPERIENCE, you will have heard the term “Data-Driven” ad nauseam (and for good reason). Most of the benefits that 3DEXPERIENCE has to offer comes from this “Data-Driven” approach. Having the platform set up this way eliminates the need to store data in a file-based format. The data is, instead, stored in a streamable package. 3DEXPERIENCE utilizes a Cloud-Based platform that is set up on a Dassault or on-premise server. These servers will stream data to users according to their access rights that are set by an admin. Users can range from anyone in the internal company, to suppliers, and even customers.

A major advantage of having a Data-Driven platform is that it gives a “single version of the truth”. This means that modified data will be updated across the entire platform in real time. The data is ALWAYS up-to-date. For example, if two designers are modifying different parts within an assembly at the same time, each designer can see the modifications that the other has made without having to close, re-sync, and re-open the assembly. The user needs to simply perform an “Update” command. This also means that whatever data the supplier or manufacturer can access is always the latest. This circumvents the issue of wasted time by having worked on outdated data.

The 3DEXPERIENCE platform creates an environment where nearly every aspect of the project can be managed within the suite. Because the system is cloud-based, the users can connect project data such as benchmarking documents, timelines, open issues, and deliverables to the CAD data/project with an optional drag-and-drop functionality. This connected data can also be tracked and monitored, thus giving managers “invisible governance” over a project. Because the suite is Data-Driven, project managers can track progress and assess development schedules in real time without micro managing their teams.

3DEXPERIENCE is split into two interfaces. Web and Native. The Web Apps are opened through a web browser and gives the user access to Social, Collaborative, and Information Intelligence Apps. The Native Apps include all the 3D design, drafting, rendering, and simulation apps which run from a local computer and require software to be installed. These apps can include CATIA, SIMULIA, DELMIA, and SOLIDWORKS.

The new Data-Driven approach also changes how an assembly is managed. In CATIA V5-6, an assembly was saved as a bulky product file with all the sub-assemblies and child parts within it. However, in 3DEXPERIENCE, there are no assembly files. Instead, the sub-assemblies and child parts are linked to the assembly through logic paths. This is especially useful when the assembly has multiple variations. In V5-6, a unique CATProduct was created for each assembly variation. This could take up large amounts of data as well as become cumbersome to keep track of. With 3DEXPERIENCE, connecting the assemblies with Data-Driven logic paths saves space and simplifies variation management. This also comes in handy when a company works with multiple manufacturing facilities with varying capabilities. 3DEXPERIENCE keeps track of variations based on manufacturing facility as well as providing the capability to include replacements for parts on the BOM/EBOM that may not be available to the facility at the time. Thus, avoiding errors and time delays in production.

The 3DEXPERIENCE Platform enhances BOM/EBOM capability as well. In 3DEXPERIENCE the BOM and 3D data are directly linked. Changes to the 3D data are now immediately reflected in the BOM and vice versa so that BOM errors during development are minimized. The connectivity of 3DEXPERINCE’s platform also gives users the ability to roll-over items in the BOM and have them highlight the associated part(s) in a 3D viewing space.

The Cloud-Based and Data-Driven 3DEXPERIENCE Platform has quite a few noticeable differences from its Client and File-Based predecessor. However, these differences are crucial to improving communication, productivity, and quality output to compete with today’s demanding marketplace. The conversion from CATIA V5-6 may take some getting used to as well as some extra training. Luckily, InFlow Technology offers regular training sessions to turn any novice 3DEXPERIENCE user into an expert in no time.

Tim Ramos
Application Engineer
InFlow Technology

Read more technical tips and best practices for SOLIDWORKS PDM, ENOVIA User & Administration, CATIA, and Driveworks over on InFlow Technology’s Technical Blog.

1. Log in to software.3ds.com

Visit the 3DS Download Platform and enter your credentials to access your licensed software download repository.

2. Choose the product line

The top banner has logos for the whole DS portfolio.  Your software will be one of these, so go ahead and click it.  For example, to obtain Abaqus installation software, click on the turquoise SIMULIA button.

3. Choose the release edition

Major new releases for all the software lines happen regularly, but you have your choice of many from the past.

3DExperience, for example, has several yearly releases available.  While Abaqus 2018 might have the latest features and performance improvements, if you have a long-established process built on an old release, Abaqus as far back as 5.7 may be available for you to install.

4. Choose the level

Once you pick a release, you’ll find that the latest “FP.CFA.****” has been pre-selected.  However, this is an update patch.

Open the list and start with the “Golden” level.  This is the main program.

You can come back after installing the main program and download the latest update patch.  The numbers represent the year and week the patch was released, so “FP.CFA.1830” came out in week 30 of year 2018 and includes every patch that came before it.

5. Download your files

You’re almost there!  The list will populate according to the product line, release edition, and level choices that you’ve made.  There’s a set of filters on the right to narrow down the list by content type, operating system, and language.

As for how to proceed with these .tar files, follow the installation instructions on our support tools page.