Algor a Finite Element Analysis tool acquired by Autodesk, has more to offer to the Autodesk Inventor users to enhance the Digital Prototyping and in turn support the Manufacturing and Design Engineers before a component can be manufactured.

Finite Element Method -

To make the end user understand better, Finite Element Method, FEM is a mathematical technique for obtaining approximate solutions to a wide variety of engineering problems.

Note: It is evident that today more and more engineering problems require approximate solutions rather than exact solutions

Also to make a design engineer understand better about FEM / FEA is how the material / part will behave under different loading conditions be it linear or non linear, thermal, fluid flow or multiphysics.

Why FEA ? We all know that conventional Test Rigs used to test various components are ideally costly and take time to understand the physics of the problem, hence if we can simulate the same environment then we considerably save huge amount on the experimentation and produce similar results using FEA.

In later articles we will review them, but for now, this Article focuses on Installing Algor V23.1

Download the Evaluation software from Algor:  Click Here

Extract the software

Now Enter the required Data in the application form as show below

Make sure you enter all relevant details including E mail ID

Details to Enter

Now you can register by online / Fax / Phone

Register Algor

Click next, and data related to registration will be sent to Algor and validated response is received back. Now you will be taken to the Installation Wizard as shown below

Installation Wizard

Now Install graphics card if needed for your machine

Install graphics card if needed

Now select the License Agreement after reading through and Click next

Accept the License Agreement

Now select Complete Install and later select the location for installation

C:\Program Files\Algor

Installation in Progress

After the Installation,

Open Algor from Start > Programs > Algor 23.1 > DesignCheck.

Now click I Agree as shown below

I Agree

Go ahead and check your email and you will receive TWO E mails with subject

1) Welcome to Algor DesignCheck for Autodesk Inventor

This Mail includes the License Number and password

Further,

Additionally, Autodesk offers a FREE introductory training session on direct CAD/CAE integration using DesignCheck. Learn how other engineers are benefiting from up-front analysis and learn how to simulate real-world scenarios on parts and assemblies within Inventor. A certified Autodesk instructor will teach you the basic fundamentals of running your first analysis and answer your questions during this interactive Webcast event.

Topics covered during this introductory training session include:

2) Your ALGOR License File

This mail contains the license file and following information

Your ALGOR license file is attached. In order to unlock the capabilities of your ALGOR software, the license file must be installed on the computer that controls the software licensing as follows:

• Save the attached license file to a location on the computer.
• Go to the Windows “Start” menu and select the “All Programs: ALGOR : Tools: License File Setup Utility” command.
• Select the “I already have a license file from ALGOR and would like to install it to this computer” option. Then, press the “Next>” button.
• Specify the location on your computer where you saved the license file. Then, press the “Next>” button.
• Press the “Finish” button to unlock the capabilities of your ALGOR software.

Now go ahead and run Algor V23.1 and ensure to select Run License File Setup Utility

License File Setup Utility

Make sure you select third option and click next and select the license file

Now, go ahead and start using Algor a digital prototyping tool to support manufacturing and design engineers.

Make sure when you are starting Algor for the first time select the default units you need.

This version of Algor is feature and Time – Limited Version.

Visit the Algor Forum for more details

http://forums.algor.com

Hi,

It was interesting to see a software demo of Algor V23 from Adroitech Information System Limited, Bangalore at MCE Hassan (Engineering College) & BIT, Bangalore (Engineering College), in connection with a training program on FEA for Engineering College Students.

Well, again I’m fascinated to see the power and capabilities of Algor V23. ,

I’ll soon be attending a refresher course / program on Algor V23 and will post on this blog . . . . in association with Autodesk Inventor

Cheers,
Sunith Babu L

With the recent acquisition of Algor, Autodesk will move into a strong CAE domain, here are some of the capabilities.

The Manufacturing suite of products will grow stronger and stronger and Inventor will truly become a world class CAD/CAE Product

ALGOR V23

CAD Support (Direct)
Added InCAD support for Think3 ThinkDesign v2008.1
Updated support for Alibre Design to Version 11
Updated support for KeyCreator to Version 8
Improved support for Autodesk Inventor models including import time, surface-knitting data, edge associativity, feature control and material data
Improved support for Rhinoceros models including capability to read blocks
Improved support for SpaceClaim models including capability to read material data

CAD Support (Universal)
Improved support for NURBS-based geometry

Documentation
Updated online help
Improved documentation including phrasing and descriptions

FEMPRO
Added ability to create beams from the centroids of surfaces
Updated text of software license agreement
Improved program start-up
Improved support for Windows DPI “large” setting
Improved support for Chinese (simplified) language
Improved support for license borrowing
Improved handling of part names across environments
Improved handling of term “species” in mass transfer analysis
Improved meshing tools:
Added user control of surface number of sketch objects for 2-D meshing
Improved the “Use Legacy Mesh Engine” option by only applying it to the current model
Improved surface meshing
Improved midplane meshing
Improved support for automatic contact:
Improved display of automatically generated contact pairs in tree view by sorting on surface number
Improved support for custom libraries of beam cross-sectional properties
Improved support for midside nodes in Joint Utility
Improved feedback on progress while checking the model
Improved support for design optimization

Fluid Flow Analysis
Added in-core and out-of-core multifrontal massively parallel solver (MUMPS) for distributed memory systems on Windows clusters
Added out-of-core multifrontal massively parallel solver (MUMPS) for distributed memory systems on Linux clusters
Improved consistency of features between 2-D and 3-D steady fluid flow analysis
Improved handling of flow through porous media analysis
Improved support for k-epsilon turbulence in models with multiple parts
Improved support for load curves including ability to define separate load curves for velocities

General
Added support for Red Hat Enterprise Linux 5.2
Updated support for Superdraw III as a line modeler

Heat Transfer Analysis
Added capability for thermal contact in 2-D models
Improved handling of load curves

Linear Dynamic Analysis
Added capability for “smart” bonded contact on unmatched meshes using a multi-point constraint (MPC) approach in natural frequency (modal) and transient stress (direct integration) analyses
Improved support for non-administrative users of critical buckling load analysis
Improved hydrostatic load calculations for triangular elements
Improved calculation of stresses and strains for tetrahedral elements with midside nodes

Material Library Manager
Added capability to specify default material library
Added additional materials including fluid, MIL-STD metal, K-340 and composite materials
Updated AISC database
Improved ease of use for selecting a material library
Improved wood material data including red oak and white ash

Mechanical Event Simulation/Nonlinear Solver
Added option to make large displacement the default setting for new MES models
Added Ogden and Mooney-Rivlin hyperelastic and viscoelastic material models for membrane elements
Added capability to apply lateral-only hydrostatic loads on shell elements
Added capability to output stress and strain data at midside nodes
Added in-core and out-of-core multifrontal massively parallel solver (MUMPS) for distributed memory systems on Windows clusters
Added out-of-core multifrontal massively parallel solver (MUMPS) for distributed memory systems on Linux clusters
Improved support for large models
Improved messaging to advise when a coarser or tetrahedral mesh can be helpful
Improved support for contact in MES and static stress with nonlinear material models analysis
Improved support for MES models with friction effects

Multiphysics Analysis
Added capability to apply fans to surfaces in steady coupled fluid flow and thermal analyses

NASTRAN Support
Improved capability for exporting results to NASTRAN

PipePak
Improved capability to import piping data from CAESAR II
Improved support for industry-standard piping codes

Report Wizard and Environment
Added capability to list moments and reaction forces in a report
Added separate report sections for loads and constraints
Added capability to export reports to DOCXML format for viewing in Microsoft Word
Improved support for configuring a report
Improved support for comments from reviewer
Improved handling of image files by using relative links for portability
Improved support for customer-specified title image
Improved support for summary and log files

Stress Analysis with Linear Material Models
Added capability for “smart” bonded contact on unmatched meshes using a multi-point constraint (MPC) approach
Added capability to apply lateral-only hydrostatic loads on plate elements
Added in-core and out-of-core multifrontal massively parallel solver (MUMPS) for distributed memory systems on Windows clusters
Added out-of-core multifrontal massively parallel solver (MUMPS) for distributed memory systems on Linux clusters
Added capability to output stress and strain data at midside nodes
Improved handling of files with long path names
Improved handling of hydrostatic loads on triangular and brick elements
Improved calculation of stresses and strains for tetrahedral elements with midside nodes

Superview Results Environment
Added beam code checking for MES
Added capability to output and display stress and strain results for midside nodes
Improved handling of load cases when inquiring on results
Improved handling of plastic strain results for MES
Improved support for path plots
Improved display of bending stress in pipe elements
Improved support for background images including TIF files
Improved handling of memory during AVI creation

Cheers,
Sunith Babu L

Its time to rejoice,

Well, its time I can confidently write about the happy married life between Autodesk & Algor,

Read the press release from Algor,

Further view this video from, Teresa Anania, Vice President, Operations of ALGOR, Inc. and Dr. Andrew Anagnost, Vice President, CAD/CAE Products, Autodesk, Inc. present a message to customers about Autodesk’s acquisition of ALGOR.

Video Link

I’m waiting to see more on Autodesk Algor initiative in the near future,

Pls make sure, you remember this blog statement “Autodesk will emerge to be the world leader in CAD/CAE” for years to come.

Thanks

Sunith Babu L