SIMULATION

FEA allows virtually testing a design, enabling rapid design iterations in CAD. Use FEA to predictively analyze parts for stress and strain, vibrational frequencies, thermal expansion, and more. While it doesn't substitute for physical testing, FEA is often a good starting point, to catch unforseen issues, or virtually demonstrate that the part will behave as intended, prior to physical testing.

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In the example below, a closed-profile machine frame was redesigned into an open-profile to meet customer sanitation requirements, only to find out that the machine's HMI swing arm created torsional loads that the new open-profile frame was not stiff enough to withstand. Closing the profile was not an option, so a series of FEA studies were performed to formulate a new design solution, which entailed adding gussets at optimized locations to maximize torsional stiffness.