Part II: Building Intelligence into Your Parts
Cross-Reference
The Curvature Comb is discussed in depth in the SolidWorks Surfacing and Complex Shape Modeling Bible
(Wiley, 2008). n
Analyzing with SimulationXpress
SimulationXpress (formerly COSMOSXpress) is a limited version of SolidWorks Simulation (for-
merly COSMOS Works) that is bundled with SolidWorks to acquaint users with FEA. The full ver-
sion of SolidWorks Simulation does a wide range of analysis, from vibrations to large deformations.
SimulationXpress is a very quick and easy wizard for simple stress analysis on stand-alone parts
with simple constraints. It does simple linear stress analysis on a single part with a single material
using only fixed constraints and a load. You can also use SimulationXpress to do a simple stress/
weight optimization based on dimensions that you select to be altered.You can start SimulationXpress through the Tools menu, or from the Evaluate tab of the
CommandManager. The interface guides you through a very simple wizard. If you have any famil-
iarity with FEA applications, you will find SimulationXpress easy to understand and use, but possi-
bly lacking in flexibility or capability.Starting in SolidWorks 2010, SimulationXpress uses a combination of the Task Pane on the right
of the graphics window and the PropertyManager on the left side of the graphics window. In this
book, I am using the detached PropertyManager, so I can position it for more compact screen
shots.SimulationXpress is intended as a quick and dirty analysis run to see whether you are even close to
having a part that will stand up to the loads you apply to it. As with any type of analysis, the
results are only of value if the setup was correct and if you are able to interpret the results.In this chapter I do not aim to teach analysis theory or best practice, this is simply a quick
overview of how to use the tool. FEA is a field of study unto itself, and you should learn it
from a dedicated resource. Analysis is a field that depends on approximations and simplifying
assumptions. Knowing how and when to make the correct approximations and assumptions
along with being able to interpret approximated results are some of the keys to success not
provided by this book.As you step through the process, the notes in the Task Pane seem to continually prompt you that
various conditions will require the next level higher (not free) in order to correctly solve the
model. SimulationXpress is clearly a sales and marketing tool, but if your needs are simple, and
you understand the process, you may be able to get useful information from it.