CAD integration

FedemSolid is our brand new CAD editor add-on to Fedem. This full-blown SolidWorks-based part and assembly modeller integrates tightly with Fedem and makes starting and maintaining a model from a CAD assembly a breeze. All major CAD formats are supported which makes it a one-button click operation to get started with a Fedem model.

Our new SolidWorks integration is similar to the Fedem - FedemSolid integration, and offers SolidWorks users a streamlined path to building and maintaining models in Fedem.

Fedem also offers an integration with NEi Fusion from NEi Software, which in addition to solid- and assembly modelling offers finite element (FE) meshing and the NEi Nastran solvers. Together with Fedem this becomes a complete and highly advanced analysis package at an affordable price.

Improved modelling

The CAD faces and edges are now available to aid in creating joints and other mechanism items, making it even more easy to set up the initial model. When a part needs to be flexible it is just a matter of opening the FE model describing the part and connect the joints to the FE nodes. 

Our embedded Control system modelling has also got some smaller improvements, like group move and better topology overview.

Improved Dynamics Solver

Iteration cut-back and simulation restart are two new features making long time series on complex models easier to handle. The cut-back feature will automatically try to restart a time step with a smaller time increment when the iterations fail to converge. This is often sufficient to get past sudden changes in the simulation response. A simulation restart can be performed with modified solution setup and can be started from any time step of a previous simulation.

Embedded contour fatigue

With release 5.0 we enhance the embedded fatigue capabilities of Fedem even more. In addition to virtual strain gauges with fatigue calculations, we now also offer full contour fatigue, based on our proven Virtual Strain Coat technology.

Time-varying surface loads

It has never been easier to do simulations with time-varying pressure or other surface load distributions. Fedem detects the distributions in the imported FE models and converts them to consistent load vectors. The magnitude of each load vector might then be scaled by time varying functions or control system outputs.

Buoyancy

Fedem has started to develop a hydrodynamics module to address the needs for analysing advanced mechanical systems in a marine environment. Buoyancy loads based on CAD geometry is the first officially released feature from this module. 

Smaller improvements

• Improved 3D navigation
• Friction in free joints
• Prescribed joint velocity and acceleration
• Animated time indicator in graphs