This class will cover the use of meshing options in Simulation Moldflow software. We frequently find that the Simulation Moldflow software user is unaware or unsure of which mesh type to use or what it is that constitutes a suitable mesh for a given geometry. We will discuss what a suitable mesh consists of and how the mesh helps to create more accurate results when running an analysis. We will cover, among other things, the importance of a refined mesh versus a course mesh, and we will discuss the instances when the over refinement of a mesh versus the under refinement no longer poses a benefit to an analysis. We will also explore common issues that we find with different mesh types, and we'll look at ways in which to manually improve the quality of a mesh.

In this class we will go over how to find and fix problem CAD geometry to get a successful mesh. We will also highlight some of the advanced meshing tools within Simulation Mechanical software.

When performing finite element analysis, the quality of your mesh dictates the accuracy of your results. With the advances in automatic meshing technology, this quality is often overlooked. This class will focus on key topics such as selecting the correct mesh size, using mesh refinement, and interrogating the element quality to make sure you can be confident in your results.

To obtain better simulation results, a systematic and powerful mesh is key. While some finite element analysis (FEA) software products have advanced meshing tools to help obtain a superior analytical model, applying these tools can be complicated. Using the guidelines and tricks taught in this session upfront, during your CAD modeling for simulation with Autodesk software, you can develop a better mesh more efficiently and obtain accurate and precise results. This class will explain first how to recognize mesh qualities, then how to use CAD modeling techniques to obtain a refined mesh more efficiently, saving time and money in your analysis efforts.

As General Motors relies more on Autodesk® Simulation Moldflow® software for upfront design for manufacturability, it has become apparent that the capability to accurately predict location and relative quality of meld lines is essential to eliminate costly tool re-work—work that is necessary to resolve surface quality and/or part performance issues. A research project was initiated under the auspices of continuous improvement to study the effect of mesh density—relative to obstruction size—on the ability of Moldflow to accurately predict position, length, and quality of a meld line. This class will review the findings of this research by using case studies to illustrate the impact of poor meld-line predictions on tooling strategy and explain how these tooling decisions could have been avoided through meshing technique. Proper mesh density for the accurate prediction of meld-line location and quality will be the next best practice enhancement to the GM Moldflow Specification, GMW16355.

This class will take a deep dive into Fusion 360 software's new parametric mesh features. These features enable innovative parametric mesh editing capabilities, as well as instant reverse engineering of a 3D scan. This class will include an explanation of the new features and a live demonstration of the most common workflows. Guest speaker Sualp Ozel—the product manager responsible for these features—will explain why Autodesk took on this challenge, and discuss where this technology is heading in the future. If you work with 3D scan data or mesh files, this class is for you!

This class will walk though techniques for preparing geometry for simulation. We'll cover hints that will help you to identify potentially problematic areas, and then we'll show you how to quickly repair models, remove unneeded detail, and optimize the geometry in a way that will help you to create a high-quality finite element analysis (FEA) or computational fluid dynamics (CFD) mesh.

Can 2D wiring drawings and 3D mesh models play together? This class explores the possibilities of using iPhone/iPad Pro Lidar to create mesh models of substation assets in the field. In this case study, working with a utility customer, we scanned their substation wiring panels with an iPad and iPhone Pro. Next, we created mesh models in an Autodesk ReCAP Photo environment and connected it to its 2D drawings in AutoCAD Electrical. Finally, attached it as part of a lifecycle in Autodesk Vault. Capturing this data could allow engineers and designers to see the actual wiring in a model with their 2D wiring drawing. This can also allow snapshots of how the rack was wired at that point in time. We will go over the process of retrieving the data, the differences in hardware, exploring the advantages and shortcomings of the data retrieved, and how we may further the process as the technology improves.

Victoria Hand Project (VHP) is a charity that designs and deploys low-cost 3D printed prosthetic arms in resource-poor areas of the world. VHP provides clinicians in these regions with the tools and training to create custom prosthetic arms, including in-house developed software that utilizes Fusion 360 to create these devices. In the past, VHP has struggled to create prosthetic devices for upper-arm amputees (i.e. above elbow), due to the complex geometry of the 3D scans, and the in-depth knowledge/workflow required by the clinicians to make the devices. By combining both Solid Modeling and Mesh Modeling, VHP has been able to improve the workflow for creating upper-arm prosthetic sockets. This workflow allows for further automation of the prosthetic socket creation through VHP’s software, which integrates with the Fusion 360 API. This empowers VHP’s in-country partners to create custom upper-arm prosthetic devices quickly and easily, allowing for improved access to prosthetic care.

One of the main development efforts regarding Autodesk CFD software has been to reduce time that users spend on the tasks of altering geometry and meshing. There have been several new major features and tools added to the product as part of this focus. The aim of this class is to inform and teach about how to gain productivity and greatly reduce your model-preparation time using these new tools. This class will include instructional demonstrations on how to use the new Surface Wrap tools, Model Assessment Toolkit, and SimStudio Tools for Autodesk CFD software. We will show a live demonstration of these tools in action. There will also be some demonstration of further enhancements for geometry and meshing available in the Autodesk CFD 2017 Beta software scheduled to be available at the time of Autodesk University 2015.

In this class we will follow new design workflows made possible by the introduction of Inventor’s shape generator, mesh tools and modern 3D printing technologies. The class will start by looking at the physical properties of current 3D printed plastics and metals. Then, with the material specifications, required for proper design simulation, we will configure the shape generator to automatically create an optimized shape based on sample design requirements. Using the resulting mesh, the class will examine the ins and outs of two separate workflow paths; using the generated mesh directly for manufacture & placement in an assembly, or modifying the part using Inventor’s mesh and surface tools to tweak the design. Join this session for a close up look at the possibilities in generative design by combining Inventor’s shape generator and mesh handling with modern 3D printing capabilities. This session features Inventor Professional. AIA Approved

Autodesk CFD software has gone through dramatic advancements that cover every aspect of the typical workflow necessary to perform an aerodynamics analysis. We will examine new workflows available to capitalize on your CAD data using SimStudio Tools for CAD cleanup or surface wrapping to nearly eliminate any CAD preparation. We will then do a deep dive into the new turbulence models available and the best practices and which ones to use for aerodynamics simulations. We will touch on mesh adaption best practices for aerodynamics to reduce the typical meshing guesswork and increase solving efficiency for complex aerodynamics models. The demonstration will conclude with methods to accurately capture the wall force results to measure lift and drag on bodies using efficient techniques. This class is designed to present the latest and proven workflows to perform aerodynamics simulations to eliminate out-of-date inefficient and less-accurate workflows used in the past.

Come and learn about runner and gate optimization using Moldflow Insight software and third-party optimization software.

This class will show how to use Simulation Moldflow Insight software for modeling the injection molding process in order to provide more accurate predictions of injection pressures during molding. We will explore factors such as material characterization, mesh type, and process settings. We will look at how the measurement of juncture loss coefficients can influence the pressure prediction provided by Simulation Moldflow Insight software for several different materials, both semicrystalline and amorphous. We will also examine how the incorporation of these coefficients influences the results between different mesh types (Midplane versus Full 3D). Additionally, we will present examples of actual projects where Simulation Moldflow Insight software was used to predict the injection pressure.

This class will include a competition to set up a model to achieve the best accuracy. It will begin with a discussion and hands-on session involving meshing—basic rules of meshing, mesh sensitivity, and mesh controls; solver settings—Advection Schemes, Nodal aspect ratio, Mach number, and Y+; convergence controls and interpretation; momentum conservation; and energy balance. Finally we will have a competition to apply what was discussed to produce an accurate simulation. Geometry and a description of the test environment will be provided, along with the results required. It is assumed that the user will have a good understanding of the software and can already set up his or her own models to a good level.

The reality capture group at Autodesk is working on ways to acquire, manipulate, or analyze real scene data using laser scans or photos through ReCap™ products. While several AU classes demonstrate ReCap use and workflows associated with these products, this class focuses on how to programmatically access the reality capture web API to create or extend an application. We start with a quick overview of basic photogrammetry concepts and image parameters. Then we approach the reality capture REST API and discuss how to define a photo scene from multiple photos and create a dense 3D mesh. We cover some of the advanced features that are available to customize and refine the process. Finally we conclude the class with a complete example written in PHP.

An efficient CFD Analysis process should take into account the quality of the information being fed to the software. This is of particular importance when it comes to geometry. Adequate meshing is crucial not only for the convergence of a solution but also for the quality an ease of interpretation of results. This hand-on lab will demonstrate the practical implications of managing large Revit models from multiple sources and having to integrate them a single mesh for analysis. We will start by creating some geometry in Autodesk Revit and walk through the steps of simplifying and refining that geometry for successful meshing in CFD. We will be using the Import/Export capabilities of Autodesk Revit and CFD before finally setting up a simple design study to validate the imported geometry. This class will feature an iterative approach used for modeling a project in Costa Rica as a case study. Going from basic geometry and then expanding into a more realistic scenario.

This class is for you if you’re a Fusion 360 user who regularly works with imported data, with the primary goal of reverse-engineering a design from that imported data. We’ll explore some techniques to use data—such as meshes, curves, images, and even solids and surfaces—from other design systems to create a basis for creating a reliable, native, parametric Fusion 360 design that represents that data as closely as possible. Learn what Fusion 360 can and cannot do when working with imported data. Learn how to avoid common performance problems when working with imported meshes and curves.

In this hands-on lab we go through the basics of Sim 360 cloud service. We go over the user interface and perform several analyses including structural fatigue and thermal using the power of the cloud. We also cover the basics of model simplification, meshing convergence, analysis setup, and results interpretation.

Using one element type is not always feasible when performing stress analysis on large, complex CAD assemblies. Mixing solid, shell, and line elements together can produce a mesh that's more efficient and more accurate. This approach can drastically reduce analysis time and enable more automation in the digital prototyping process. In this class, Ed Gillman will explain the key differences between the finite element types and where they’re best utilized. He will then demonstrate the process of converting assemblies into mixed element models and the techniques that can be used to properly connect the mesh.